WHAT: Operation No Alcohol
WHERE: Collier County-wide
WHEN: July 14, 2008, to Aug. 2, 2008
WHO: Collier County Sheriff's Office, Naples Police and Emergency Services Department, Marco Island Police Department
SUMMARY: A three-weeklong effort by the Collier County Sheriff's Office aimed at educating store owners and their employees across the county about the consequences of selling alcohol to minors came to a successful conclusion over the weekend.
In mid-July CCSO deputies visited 96 convenience stores from North Naples to Everglades City in an effort to educate employees about selling alcohol to minors. Deputies spoke to the managers at each business, informing them of CCSO's efforts to prevent teen drinking and asking for their support. Each manager received a packet of information regarding the laws pertaining to underage drinking and alcohol sales to minors, along with buttons and stickers informing customers that identification is required to purchase alcohol.
The effort culminated in an enforcement operation over the weekend that resulted in employees from 26 Collier County businesses being charged with selling alcohol to minors.
CCSO deputies, along with officers from the Marco Island and Naples police departments, had underage volunteers attempt to buy alcohol from 81 stores around the county. Out of the 81 attempts, 26 buys were successful.
Deputies performed the sting between 4 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The underage volunteers teamed up with deputies and police officers in uniform and plain clothes.
Twenty five employees received notices to appear in court on charges of selling alcohol to minors. Another employee, a juvenile, received a civil citation for selling alcohol to a minor.
The charge is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail.
