Investigators with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement Division recently conducted alcohol and beer compliance checks in Oxford and Picayune resulting in the issuance of six total citations for selling alcohol to minors.

In Oxford on October 23, the following businesses received citations when checked for compliance on selling alcohol to minors:

Frank & Marlees                      1210 Harrison Avenue            2 VIOLATIONS

Rib Cage of Oxford                 311 South Lamar Boulevard     VIOLATION    2^nd Offense w/in a year

Soulshine Pizza Factory         308 South Lamar Boulevard      VIOLATION

The following businesses in Oxford did not receive a citation when checked for compliance on selling alcohol to minors:

4 Corner Chevron                               502 South Lamar Boulevard

Double Quick #24                               1401 Jackson Avenue

Kendall’s Gas Mart                             1455 South Lamar Boulevard

Lamar Express                                   1448 South Lamar Boulevard

Lamar Lounge                                     1309 North Lamar Boulevard

Levee of Oxford                                 1008 Jackson Avenue

Proud Larry’s                                      211 South Lamar Boulevard

Sky Mart Grocery                               825 College Hill Road

Spot Store                                           1438 North Lamar Boulevard

The Corner Bar                                   1002 Jackson Avenue East

The following businesses in Oxford did not let anyone under the age of 21 inside:

Funkys                                                1012 Jackson Avenue

Rooster’s Blues House                       114 Courthouse Square

The Round Table on the Square        132 Courthouse Square

The Library                                          120 South 11^th Street

The Oxford Cellar                               135 South 10^th Street

Attorney General Hood pre-warns, “If you sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, you will pay a stout fine to the State between $500-$1,000 for a first offense, and if you continue to sell you could lose your permit to sell and possibly face a fine of $1,000-$2,000, and up to a year in jail. We appreciate the support and commitment of local law enforcement agencies, and I am certain that our combined efforts will vastly help reduce the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers.”

“At the core of this law is the safety of our young people. It simply states that it is illegal in Mississippi to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21,” said Attorney General Jim Hood.

“We conduct alcohol checks frequently,” said Attorney General Hood. “In these routine checks, we issue citations to bartenders or servers. We like to keep vigilance high, particularly in college towns, but also in surrounding areas, that we are out enforcing our state’s alcohol and tobacco laws statewide.”

Attorney General Hood concludes, “The Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Division provides training for staff and management of any retail establishment which sells alcohol.  I urge business owners and managers to contact my office, and ask for on-site training. The lives of our children and loved ones are at risk whenever alcohol consumption and driving are mixed.  Other dangers include binge or excessive drinking which can also result in overdose, an accident or injury. Retailers who are vigilant in following the law can significantly improve a safe environment for all.”

During the past fiscal year, the Attorney General’s Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit has conducted more than 6,000 compliance checks with 203 buys for a 3.28% buy rate across the state.