Police check liquor permit compliance

Over the past weekend, the Athens Police Department investigated area stores with carry out liquor permits.

APD checked that area stores were complying with the terms of their permits and not selling alcohol to underage consumers, according to an APD news release.

Thirty-three checks were completed at 22 different locations, according to the release. Using three confidential, underage informants, the APD was able to purchase alcohol eight times at seven locations, according to the release.

This means alcohol was sold to underage consumers about 33 percent of the time, according to the release.

Each individual responsible for selling the alcohol was cited in Athens County Municipal Court for furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the release. In addition, every permit holder was referred to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Enforcement Division.

According to the release, the checks were funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The grant money is used to combat the use of alcohol by underage consumers.

- Rob Chalifoux