More than 90 businesses across North Carolina were cited in August for selling alcohol to minors during undercover compliance checks, according to the North Carolina Association of ABC Officers.
Officers partnered with ABC Boards in 12 counties for the statewide “B21” campaign, which uses underage buyers ages 16 to 19 who present their real IDs if asked. Investigators said many clerks either failed to request identification or misread IDs. Out of 578 compliance checks, 91 resulted in civil violations referred to the ABC Commission.
Alongside compliance checks, officers also carried out special operations under a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking. Those efforts led to 657 total charges statewide in August, including:
- 370 alcohol-related offenses, such as underage possession and providing alcohol to minors
- 11 DWIs
- 22 drug violations
- 19 open container cases
- 49 fake ID offenses
- 95 other misdemeanors
