3 of 17 Wythe County businesses cited for selling alcohol to underaged customers

Odyssey Fields
·1 min read

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office is warning businesses to always check IDs when customers are purchasing alcohol.

On April 20, the Sheriff’s Office announced on social media that 3 out of 17 businesses were cited for selling alcohol to customers under 21 years old.

According to Virginia law, the clerk and the establishment with the license to sell can be punishable by fines, probation, or having their Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority (ABC) license revoked.

ABC says the seller can receive a fine of up to $2,500 and, or up to 12 months in jail.

To prevent selling alcohol to customers underaged, ABC is suggesting clerks and servers:

  • Watch out for second-party sales. If a seller observes specific activity of a second party, such as passing of money, participation in selection, or bringing an alcoholic beverage to the checkout counter, ID should be requested of the second party. The sale may be legally refused.

  • If your establishment has a computerized system for scanning IDs, be certain employees receive training and understand how to use the equipment.

  • Be familiar with IDs. Many, including the Virginia driver’s license and ID card, have the person’s 18th and 21st birthdays. No math is required!

“We ask that all businesses be vigilant this prom season to ensure a safe and fun evening for our children. We will continue these compliance checks,” said the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.