Three stores fail booze compliance checks

The Daily Inter Lake

Five local grocery/convenience stores passed Flathead County Sheriff's Office/Alcohol Enforcement Team compliance checks on Friday. Three stores failed the checks, according Det. Travis Bruyer, team coordinator. The team consisted of three officers and one underage volunteer "buyer."

The purpose of the checks was to ensure that stores confirm that buyers of alcoholic beverages are of legal age in accordance with Montana law before selling them any liquor, Bruyer said.

Midway Mini-Mart, Safeway of Whitefish, Westside Exxon, Markus Foods and Alpine Market passed the checks. Mike's of Whitefish, Town Pump of Whitefish and Super One Foods of Whitefish failed.

Those clerks who sold alcoholic beverages to underage buyers were cited and released with a court appearance.