2 businesses fail alcohol sales compliance check

Two local businesses were caught selling alcohol to underage customers during recent compliance checks conducted by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, during the Jan. 28 checks the Midway Tavern and Midway Mini Mart in Happy Valley allegedly sold alcoholic beverages to customers under the age of 21. Clerks and bartenders who sold to the underage patrons were issued citations and given a date to appear in Justice Court.

Fourteen businesses were visited during the compliance checks. Businesses that passed the check were: The Hellroaring Saloon, O’Brien's Liquor and Wine, The Blue Moon Nite Club, Magic Diamond Casino of Columbia Falls, Backslope Brewing, Smith’s Food and Drug of Columbia Falls, Columbia Bar and Kelly’s Casino. Four other establishments were closed when the compliance check was performed.

The compliance checks are performed at the request of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services' Addictive and Mental Disorders Division to ensure establishments with licenses to sell alcohol are properly identifying and refusing to sell to patrons under the age of 21.