During the last two weeks, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, in cooperation with the Rocky Top Police Department, the Oliver Springs Police Department, and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP, conducted compliance checks of local businesses who sell beer.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit and officers from the Rocky Top and Oliver Springs Police Departments visited 36 businesses to try to buy beer, a press release said. Six sold beer to the underage person. Four of the six checked for identification but still sold beer to the underage purchaser. Two businesses were closed.
The following businesses sold beer to the underage person:
| Al’s Market | New River Highway | Briceville |
| Hitching Post | Clinton Highway | Clinton |
| Marathon (Fast Track) | Lake City Highway | Rocky Top |
| Smokes and Things | Clinton Highway | Powell |
| V Night Club | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Weigel’s | Clinton Highway | Powell |
Six clerks who sold beer to the underage purchasers have been cited to court, the press release said. The beer permit holders will be brought before the respective beer boards for Anderson County and Rocky Top.
Businesses who checked for identification and did not sell beer are to be commended and recognized for their efforts, the release 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 |
| Coal Creek Smokehouse | South Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Construction Zone | Lake City Highway | Rocky Top |
| Dollar General | Hanna Drive | Oliver Springs |
| Dollar General | Laker Lane | Rocky Top |
| Exxon (Fast Stop) | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Food City | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Ginger’s Deli | Briceville Highway | Briceville |
| Jerry’s Market | Sulphur Springs Road | Clinton |
| LaFiesta Restaurant | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Lee’s Market | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Los Tris | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Marathon (Edgemoor) | Edgemoor Road | Clinton |
| Marathon (Downtown) | Main Street | Oliver Springs |
| Marathon (Mack’s Tobacco) | Oak Ridge Highway | Clinton |
| Marathon (Norwood) | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Marathon (Rocky Top) | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| My Place | Edgemoor Road | Powell |
| Pilot | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Raceway | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Rite Aid | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Riverview Grill | Oak Ridge Highway | Clinton |
| Shell (Fun Food) | East Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
| Shell | North Main Street | Rocky Top |
| Town Talk | Lake City Highway | Clinton |
| Von’s Market | East Wolf Valley Road | Heiskell |
| Weigel’s | Weigels Lane | Rocky Top |
The following businesses were closed:
| Duane’s Truck Stop | Lake City Highway | Clinton |
| Dollar General | West Tri-County Boulevard | Oliver Springs |
In 2013, the Anderson County Underage Drinking Task Force was established to create a platform for representatives from each city across Anderson County to address underage drinking issues. 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, the 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,” the press release said.
The Underage Drinking Task Force meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the School Board Room on the fifth floor of the Robert Jolley Building at 101 South Main Street in Clinton.
“By being proactive, local law enforcement agencies, along with the Underage Drinking Task Force, are creating a safer environment in Anderson County, the release said.
For additional information on preventing underage drinking, visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org.
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