Five clerks cited after beer ‘sting’ in Anderson County

Five businesses in Anderson County sold beer to an underage person during a September 29 “sting,” and five clerks have been cited to court, Sheriff Paul White said Monday.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department conducted the sting in cooperation with the Rocky Top Police Department, the Oliver Springs Police Department, and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit visited 20 businesses to try to buy beer during the compliance checks, White said. He said all 20 businesses checked for identification showing the person to be under 21, but five still sold beer to the underage person.

White said the following businesses sold beer to the underage person:

• In and Out Market—Lake City Highway, Clinton
• Lee’s Food Mart—East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
• Raceway—East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
• Smokes and Things—Clinton Highway, Powell
• Von’s Market—East Wolf Valley Road, Heiskell

White said the five clerks who sold the beer to the underage purchasers have been cited to court, and the beer permit holders will be brought before the respective beer boards for Anderson County and Oliver Springs.

“Businesses who checked for identification and did not sell beer are to be commended and recognized for their efforts,” White said.

All of the following businesses checked for identification and did not sell beer to the underage purchaser:

• Anderson Discount Tobacco—Main Street, Oliver Springs
• Bread Box—Edgemoor Road, Powell
• Exxon—North Main Street, Rocky Top
• Fast Lap Market (Town Talk)—Lake City Highway, Clinton
• Food City—East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
• Marathon (Mack’s Tobacco)—Oak Ridge Highway, Clinton
• Marathon (Edgemoor)—Edgemoor Road, Clinton
• Marathon (Downtown)—Main Street, Oliver Springs
• Marathon (Fast Track)—Lake City Highway, Rocky Top
• Marathon (Rocky Top)—North Main Street, Rocky Top
• Pilot #314—North Main Street, Rocky Top
• Rite Aid—East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
• Shell—North Main Street, Rocky Top
• Shell (Fun Food)—East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
• Weigel’s #73—Weigels Lane, Lake City

In 2013, the Anderson County Underage Drinking Task Force was established to create a platform for representatives from each municipality across Anderson County to address underage drinking issues, White said. In collaboration with Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, the Underage Drinking Task Force consists of community members representing beer boards, alcohol outlets, law enforcement officers, Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission, and other government officials.

“Task Force members have been working diligently by analyzing policy and investigating best practices to prevent and reduce underage drinking,” White said.

The Underage Drinking Task Force meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Board Room on the fifth floor of the Robert Jolley Building at 101 South Main Street in Clinton.

For more information about the Underage Drinking Task Force, contact Michael Foster, prevention coordinator with ASAP at (865) 457-3007 or [email protected].

“By being proactive, local law enforcement agencies, along with the Underage Drinking Task Force, are creating a safer environment in Anderson County,” White said.

For additional information on preventing underage drinking, visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org.