MANDEVILLE, La. -- The Mandeville Police Department targeted businesses selling alcohol to an underage drinker last week as part of a grant program funded by the state.
In all, 15 businesses were targeted.
Four stores had employees who sold alcohol to a 19-year-old, confidential informant, according to police: the Gem Works at 500 North Causeway; the Winn Dixie at 619 North Cause-way Approach; the Spur Station at 3810 La. 22; and The Fresh Market located at 1880 North Causeway.
The employees were issued a court summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21.
Eleven stores refused to sell alcohol to the teenager: the Shell located on Hwy. 22; the Rouse’s located on Hwy. 22; the Wal-Greens located on Hwy. 22; the CVS Pharmacy located on Hwy. 22; the K-Mart located on Hwy. 190; the Albertson’s located on Hwy 190; the Northshore Shell located on East Causeway; the Exxon located on Hwy. 190; the Cracker Barrel located on Hwy. 190; the Neighborhood Wal-Mart located on Hwy. 190; and the CVS Pharmacy located on Hwy. 190.
"Those businesses are an inspiration to us all as we know that they can be trusted to help protect our children," said Mandeville Police Chief Rick Richard. "And to be fair to the businesses who were found to be in violation, we understand that the actions of these employees do not represent your policies or best interests."
Richards said the department has planned on carrying out more of these operations in the future.
The operation was funded by a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. A program called Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement, or JUDE, helped carry it out.
