Clerks at seven area businesses did not permit the sale of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products to underage buyers during a July 6 survey by undercover detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) for compliance with the Florida Beverage law. Another four businesses failed to comply with the law.
During the operation, detectives found that clerks at Mayberry Mobil, 5244 Mariner Blvd.; Mobil at 4275 Mariner Blvd.; 7-Eleven, 16161 Spring Hill Dr.; Exxon, 13075 Spring Hill Dr.; Circle K, 3275 Broad St.; 7-Eleven- 940 Broad St.; and the Super Discount Beverage and Smoke Shop, 814 Broad St. were in compliance with state laws governing the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to underage buyers.
Meanwhile, undercover detectives found that clerks at Wawa, 20075 Cortez Blvd.; Citgo,19275 Cortez Blvd; and those at the Mobil, 717 Broad St., all in Brooksville, sold alcohol to underage buyers. They also found that clerks at The Vapor Emporium, 2103 Mariner Blvd., in Spring Hill, sold tobacco products to buyers who were underage.
HCSO Public Relations Manager Denise Moloney said that those in violation of the law are required to complete the HCSO’s Responsible Vendor Training (RVT) online course within 30 days of the violation.
Administered by the Hernando Community Coalition, the course reviews Florida beverage laws and demonstrates how to prevent unlawful alcohol sales to underage buyers.
More operations of this nature are planned for the future, the HCSO said.
