More

than half of the businesses in Fayetteville

licensed to sell beer and wine are now finding

those permits in jeopardy due to unlawful alcohol

sales to minors.

The

City Council will discuss at tonight's workshop

and Monday's regular meeting whether to suspend

the licenses of 20 convenience stores, grocery

stores and restaurants in the city that were

found in violation after a routine police sweep

conducted June 21-23 of this year.

All

39 city establishments with licenses were visited

21, accompanied by law enforcement personnel. All

alcohol sales were videotaped.

The

purpose of the exercise, called an "alcohol

surety program" by police, is to make sure

that merchants are following local and state law

customers and displaying their alcohol licenses

properly.

In

addition to the underage alcohol sales, a total

of 23 employees were found to be in violation of

city ordinances involving conspicuous display of

alcohol permits, police said.

City

ordinances in Fayetteville require that all

persons wishing to purchase alcohol show ID

regardless of whether they appear to be 21 or

older. State codes also mandate this, and

violations in both cases are misdemeanors.

In

addition to the commercial ramifications for

businesses that commit violations, the employees

in each case who actually sell alcohol to

underage customers are cited and face misdemeanor

charges. Nearly all of those cases have been

adjudicated in city court, police said, with most

cases resulting in fines and probation.

The

first citywide sweep of this kind was conducted

late last year, police said. No citations were

issued at that time, but all violators received

warning letters and were put on notice that

subsequent checks would occur.

Alcohol

licenses are updated every year, and any person

buying an establishment with an existing license

must reapply to the city.

Having

a license stripped can have serious financial

repercussions. The licenses themselves usually

cost several thousand dollars, and alcohol sales

typically account for a large percentage of

overall revenue in establishments that sell it.

Both

Fayetteville and unincorporated Fayette County

allow beer and wine sales. Only Peachtree City

has liquor by the drink in Fayette County.

F'ville

businesses charged with underage alcohol sales

Cornerstone

Chevron, 95

Jeff Davis Dr. S.

Kroger

at 805 Glynn

St. S.

Eckerd

at Hwy. 85 S.

Eckerd

at 975 Hwy. 54

W.

Quickie-Fast

Foods at 340

Lanier Ave. E.

Cobblestone

Amoco at 775

Lanier Ave. E.

Nick's

Steak House and Sports Cafe, 389 Fayette Place

Baci

Italian Cuisine, 174F N. Glynn St.

Golden

Chopsticks, 21

Hudson Plaza II

Rick

Tanner's Original, 94 Pavilion Pkwy.

El

Ranchero Mexican, 214 Banks Crossing

Quickie/Fast

Foods at 760

Glynn St. N.

JMS

at 610 W.

Lanier Ave.

Wings

& Things, 652

Jeff Davis Dr.

Pizza

Hut, 650 Glynn

St. N.

Pit

Stop at 630 N.

Glynn St.

City

Cafe & Bakery, 215 S. Glynn St.

Milano's

Italian, 660 N.

Glynn St.

La

Fiesta Mexican, 119

Banks Station

Village

Cafe, 175 Banks

Station

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