Bayou Vista businesses cited for selling alcohol

Citations issued to two Bayou Vista restaurants are among the 331 violations in the first month of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control’s 2014 Summer Crackdown on underage alcohol and tobacco sales.
Si Senor Mexican Restaurant, 1201 Belleview St., was issued two underage drinking violations and Tampico’s Restaurant at 1425 U.S. 90 was issued one underage drinking violation in June, according to a news release issued by the commission.
Of the violations issued in the first month of the crackdown, 211 were for alcohol sales to minors; 120 were for tobacco sales to minors.
Since the campaign began June 2, ATC agents conducted more than 2,400 compliance checks on businesses statewide that sell and/or serve alcohol and tobacco, the release stated.
Last year, agents conducted 3,000 compliance checks over a three-month period and they are working to more than double that number this year, according to the release.
Local violators last year on the commission’s website include the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, Lakeview Grocery at 3640 Lake Palourde Road, Rathskeller at 7222 U.S. 90 and Nguyen’s Amelia Superette at 10930 La. 182.
Commissioner Troy Hebert said most businesses were found to be following the law regarding selling these products to minors.
“Eighty-five percent of businesses checked did not sell to a minor. That’s good news. We just need to focus on the 15 percent that continue to violate the law,” Hebert said.
Businesses caught selling alcohol or tobacco to underage persons are subject to criminal and administrative charges and face fines and penalties that could result in suspension or revocation of their alcohol and tobacco permits.
Additional report from The Associated Press.