By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER
LYNCHBURG — On July 2, local deputies sent an underage female into local small businesses with either a beer or alcohol license and six of those small businesses sold alcohol to minors and now must either pay a $1500 fine or suspend beer or liquor sales for 14 days. This was the result of the Metro Beer Board Meeting on Monday, August 11.
According to Investigator Thomas, this was the first such sting in Moore County since 2021.
At the meeting, Moore County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Brandon Thomas appeared before the Beer Board. He explained that the under age female successfully bought beer or liquor at the Short Creek RV Park, Lynchburg Market, Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, Sweet Southern Spirits, the Bar-B-Que Caboose, and Canterero Mexican Grill.
“I don’t believe anyone intentionally sold to a minor,” Investigator Thomas stated. “The actual thing that saved everybody were the scanners. The people that had the scanners, none of those people sold. The people that didn’t have scanners. The others had to try to do the math in their head, basically, and they just mixed it up.”
Of the six Lynchburg Market, Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, Bar-B-Que Caboose, and Canterero Mexican Grill opted to pay the $1500 fine. Short Creek RV Park and Sweet Southern Spirits opted to suspend beer and/or alcohol sales for 14 day beginning on Tuesday, August 12.
When asked if they had “evidence” of the crime, Investigator Thomas stated that all the offenses were captured on video. He further stated that the female in question used a real ID that showed her actual date of birth and not a fake ID. Several offending member complained that the underage female possessed an ID with a birthday in July – the same month the sting happened.
“Bottom line is card everyone and look closely,” Chairman Jennings told the gallery.
All members of the Beer Board were present including Mark Watkins, Chair Buford Jennings, Nathan Buchanan, Dan Rifley, and Peggy Gold. •
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