Beer Board fines three convenience stores for underage sale

JACKSON, Tenn. — The City of Jackson‘s Beer Board held a special called meeting Thursday morning to decide on a few different topics.

From approving temporary permits to handing out fines or suspensions, the meeting was filled with important decisions. We talked to Councilman J.P. Stovall about how significant these conversations are.

“It is very serious,” Stovall said. “First of all, for special occasions, we want to make sure that special occasions and different events that we have around the City, that they have security, that they’re carding people, and things of that nature.”

In this meeting, there were three separate businesses in Jackson who had a show cause hearing regarding selling to underage individuals. This can result in multiple disciplines and is a serious topic for the board.

“And that’s why we levee fines within the law,” said Stovall. “What the law will allow us to do. First offense $1,500, second offense $2,500, third offense is normally a straight suspension. You can pay the fine or you can take the suspension. Most of the time they just pay the fine.”

The suspension is 30 days, and you have seven days to pay your fine, or the suspension takes place.

We also talked to Councilman Stovall about how these instances come before the board.

“Officers will often send in a minor to test the stores to make sure they are not selling to minors. When one of them does, they are then cited, then they will appear before the Beer Board,” Stovall said.

Thursday morning, both the Citgo and South Side Mini Mart on South Highland Avenue, and the T-Mart Tobacco Stores on North Highland were given the option to pay a fine or have a suspension.

Both the Citgo and T-Mart Tobacco were fined for a first offense, and the South Side Mini Mart was fined for a second offense.

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