Breaux Bridge area stores swept up in summer crackdown

Nearly a dozen Breaux Bridge area retail outlets were among those receiving citations by Alcohol and Tobacco Control agents during ATC’s “summer crackdown.”
Statewide, the agents conducted 5,474 compliance checks and issued 821 citations. Of those citations, 460 were issued for alcohol sales to a minor and 361 were issued for tobacco sales to a minor. According to ATC, approximately 15 percent of the businesses checked sold alcohol and/or tobacco to an underage operative, which is in line with previous years.
In St. Martin Parish, those cited for illegal sales were Grand Pointe Texaco (alcohol and tobacco), Dollar General, 2310 Cecilia Sr. High School (tobacco), Crazy Bout Crawfish (alcohol), Winn Dixie on Rees Street (alcohol and tobacco), Websters Meat Market (alcohol), Cecilia Mini Mart (alcohol and tobacco), D&M Food Store (alcohol and tobacco), Angelle’s (alcohol), T&Q Grocery (alcohol and tobacco), Dale’s Flea Mart & Pawn Shop (tobacco), and Poche’s Market & Restaurant (alcohol and tobacco).
The summer crackdown is an attempt by ATC to follow through on its mission to prevent access of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to underage persons, said Commissioner Troy Hebert. Statistics show an increase in teenage alcohol consumption during summer months, Hebert said.
Most of the operatives used were 16 and 17 years old.
“We are not satisfied with a 15 percent non-compliance rate, but the good news is that 85 percent did the right thing,” Hebert said. “There is nothing good that can come out of selling alcohol or tobacco to a minor and ATC will hold those that sold accountable.”
This is the third year Commissioner Hebert has ordered ATC agents to increase the number of random compliance checks at alcohol and tobacco retail outlets statewide during the summer. Anyone caught selling or serving alcohol or tobacco products to minors are subject to criminal and/or administrative charges. Businesses and servers face fines that range from $500 to $5,000, and penalties that could result in suspension or revocation of their alcohol and tobacco permits.