13 stores in Volusia County were identified as having sold alcohol to underage buyers, according to a new report from the Volusia Sheriff's Office. An undercover buyer attempted to purchase alcohol at 26 stores, the report said, and was successful in an alarming half of them.
Selling alcohol to an underage consumer is a second degree misdemeanor, and alcohol vendors are required to verify with the customer's ID that they're 21 years of age or older. Undercover buyers who are younger than 21 are frequently used as ways to check compliance with this law by law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The checks in this instance were done over an area on the west side of Volusia County, excluding coastal areas for the time being. Five communities accounted for the 13 violators. They were as follows: