MANHATTAN — More than three dozen grocery stores in Manhattan were recently busted for selling alcohol to underage customers, the State Liquor Authority announced Friday.
The sting sent volunteer decoys under age 21 into 212 licensed grocery stores in each of the five boroughs, making the Aug. 15-18 operation the SLA's largest underage sting to date.
The youth were able to buy booze in 123 of the stores, including 37 of the 49 stores they tried in Manhattan.
"Cracking down on underage sales is a priority for the State Liquor Authority,” Chairman Dennis Rosen said. “These large-scale sweeps will continue, and groceries should understand that when they sell to minors they are putting their license and their livelihood in jeopardy.”
Fines for stores found selling alcohol to minors start at $2,500 for a first-time offense and can be as high as $10,000. Employees and liquor license-holders can be charged with misdemeanors, as well.
Hercules Fancy Grocery, which plans to close this month after more than 30 years in the West Village, is among the stores the SLA reported having caught in the sting.
Owner Hercules Dimitratos, 70, said he had not been notified of any charges of selling alcohol to a minor.
"I ask all the time for ID," he said.
A spokesman for the SLA said the busts did not involve sales of the fruity alcoholic drinks known as "nutcracker."
