Read the article about the Colorado operation on the Fort Morgan Times

Minor was able to purchase alcohol or tobacco at 4 of 21 locations

A routine operation to determine whether vendors of alcohol and tobacco are complying with age-based rules of sale turned up four violations recently.

Fort Morgan police, in a coordinated effort with the State of Colorado Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division, conducted the operation with visits to 21 restaurants, stores and bars throughout the city on Nov. 18, 2022. Among those, 17 locations did not complete the sell to a minor, Police Chief Loren Sharp said.

Three of the four violations included the sale of a tobacco product to a minor, with violations occurring at Family Dollar, Reata and South Sherman Food and Gas. Additionally, the sale of alcohol to a minor occurred at The Queen Lounge.

“We strongly believe that every establishment who chooses to sell tobacco and liquor must do their part to ensure those products are not sold to minors not legally allowed to possess them,” Sharp said.

The person completing the sale to the minor customer is cited in each case for selling alcohol or tobacco to an underage person, a criminal offense in Morgan County, Sharp said.

It is possible further civil actions could be taken by the State of Colorado, Sharp added, against the establishments that were in violation of the laws. Those actions could include loss or suspension of a liquor license, fines, and other penalties that may be set by the state liquor licensing authority, he said.

Not all compliance checks of locations selling alcohol and tobacco in the city have been completed, Sharp said.

“We will continue to work with the State of Colorado to enforce the regulations set forth by statute to ensure compliance with all liquor and tobacco laws,” he said. “This will be an ongoing effort throughout the City of Fort Morgan to encourage compliance with rules set for these establishments.”

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