Three Ga. Retailers Lose Alcohol Licenses

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. -- The Warner Robins City Council revoked alcohol licenses from two Warner Robins convenience stores this week and suspended the license at a third because the businesses sold alcohol to minors in an undercover police operation. The licenses to sell alcohol at Rozy Food Mart and Stop N' Shop were revoked for 12 months. The license at a second Stop N' Shop was suspended for 6 months and the business was placed on 12 months of probation.

Minors working for the Warner Robins Police Department were able to buy alcohol at all three locations on different dates in April, according to the Macon ( Ga.) Telegraph. It was the third time Rozy Food and one of the Stop N' Shop's were cited for selling to minors. It was the second offense for the other Stop N' Shop.

Representatives from each business briefly pleaded their case before the council, with each saying a former employee sold the alcohol, and that they've done all they can to train workers to ask for identification. "I tried to do my best, but I guess it didn't work," said Johnny Patel, who represented Stop N' Shop.

Councilman Matt Stone defended the penalties to the retailers by saying the city has a responsibility to enforce laws prohibiting sales of alcohol to minors.