FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 8, 2016

Sheriff’s Office Continues Commitment to Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco Free Kids

SEBRING –

On Friday, August 5th, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Suppression Team conducted alcoholsales compliance checks at a total of 31 locations in Sebring and Avon Park. These compliance checks are part of our ongoing strategy to help reduce underage drinking and access to alcohol and tobacco. The Sheriff’s Office, partnering with the Drug Free Highlands initiative has been conducting periodic compliance checks on vendors for several years now.In 27 of the31 stores visited, clerks checked ID and refused to sell alcohol to an underage person. These stores are as follows:

In Compliance

Name of Business / Address / City
Sunoco / 999 US 27 South / Avon Park
Marathon / 3 US 27 North / Avon Park
7 Days / 107 US 27 South / Avon Park
Chevron / 590 US 27 North / Avon Park
El Paso / 209 US 27 North / Avon Park
Shell / 998 US 27 North / Avon Park
Citgo / 1310 Allamanda Dr. / Avon Park
Walmart Liquor Store / 1041 US 27 North / Avon Park
Murphy's / 993 US 27 North / Avon Park
Sunoco / 999 US 27 South / Avon Park
Citgo / 901 US 27 South / Avon Park
Raceway / 1625 US 27 South / Avon Park
Shell Food Mart / 6229 US 27 North / Sebring
Love Bugs / 4200 US 27 North / Sebring
ABC Liquors / 2311 US 27 North / Sebring
Lakeshore Shell / 1035 US 27 North / Sebring
Citgo / 1409 US 27 South / Sebring
Marathon / 2912 US 27 South / Sebring
Circle K / 3030 US 27 South / Sebring
Marathon / 3641 US 27 South / Sebring
Raceway / 5100 US 27 South / Sebring
Circle K / 7916 US 27 South / Sebring
Mobile Mart / 8000 US 27 South / Sebring
Jay-Vee / 11911 US 27 South / Sebring
Gate Station / 134 US 27 North / Lake Placid
USA Grocery / 244 CR 621 / Lake Placid
Raceway / 781 US 27 / Lake Placid
Quick Mart / 1070 US 27 North / Lake Placid

Unfortunately there were three locations that were not in compliance and the clerk in each of these stores was cited and an affidavit for the sale of an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21, which is a misdemeanor offense, was forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office. These locations were as follows:

Not In Compliance

Name of Business / Address / Location
Marathon / 3901 US 27 North / Sebring
Circle K / 2101 Hammock Rd / Sebring
Heartland Lanes Bowling / 1070 US 27 North / Sebring

Sheriff Susan Benton was very appreciative of Highlands County businesses in their continuing efforts to protect our youth by requiring and checking ID before selling alcoholic beverages. She also complimented the work of the Crime Suppression Team in diligently conducting these compliance checks throughout the county. “This was the last weekend before the start of the new school year and the last weekend of summer vacation. We value thepartnership between the businesses being vigilant and our deputies enforcing the laws in the effort to keep alcoholic beverages out of the hands of the young people in our community,” she said. “Thank you also to Drug Free Highlands for their leadership in promoting a healthy and safe community for Highlands County all year round.”