More than three dozen restaurants, bars, convenience stores and supermarkets in Lafayette Parish are facing fines in connection with the state office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control's 2014 "Summer Crackdown."
ATC agents conducted 6,598 compliance checks for illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco to minors using 16- and 17-year-old operatives who attempted to purchase products in the establishments. According to ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert, 14 percent of the business checked during the crackdown sold illegal products to minors.
This year's crackdown more than doubled the number of compliance checks conducted in 2013, Hebert's office says, noting that booze and cigarette sales to minors tend to surge during the summer months when kids are out of school.
"Let me be clear, there is nothing good that can come out of selling alcohol to a minor. And if you do, ATC will hold you accountable," Hebert says in a press release announcing results of the operation. "This permit is a privilege, not a right."
Here's who got busted in Lafayette Parish:
Broussard: Morvant's Grill III Rotolo's Pizzaria Nash's Restaurant Independence Day Jerseys Daiquiris Sports Bar
Carencro: La Hacienda Express Super 1 Foods (three violations) Mire's Grocery (two violations) Mouton's Food Mart (two violations)
Lafayette: Burgersmith Dollar General, 7004 Johnston Pimon Thai Restaurant Circle K, 3400 Pinhook Peking Garden Dozo Hit N Run Food Store, 801 Ambassador Albertsons on Ambassador (two violations) Another Broken Egg Cafe Thai Cuisine Rachael's Agave on Kaliste Saloom Don's Seafood and Steakhouse Chris' Poboys on Moss University Avenue Food Mart (two violations) Breaux's Mart (two violations) CVS on Bertrand Shannon's Picante Mexican Restaurant Hit N Run Food Store on NW Evangeline (two violations) Fat Pat's Bar and Grill Anne's Table La Pagua Mexican Restaurant La Fonda Cupid's Daiquiris
Scott: Cracker Barrell on Ambassador (two violations) Billy's Boudin & Cracklins R&R Smoke Shoppe (two violations)
Youngsville: Pop N Go