In Lakeland, Florida, Polk County Sheriff's Office continues its vigilance with "Operation Pop-Top", a periodic compliance check on local convenience stores selling alcohol. During their recent outing yesterday, deputies, along with the undercover assistance of a 17-year old high school student member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000 program, tested the integrity of nine stores. In a statement obtained by the Polk County Sheriff's Office news, the minor was able to illegally purchase alcohol from one of the nine convenience stores visited.
Implemented to curb underage drinking, the sting operation exposed a lapse at the QP Gas Station, located at 704 North Scenic Highway in Lake Wales. Walking into this establishment, manned by Abul Kalem Shaikh, the cadet, who was as young as 17 years old, purchased an alcoholic beverage without dispute. Following the sale, Shaikh, age 63, was charged with the misdemeanor of selling alcohol to a person under 21 years of age, and according to Polk County Sheriff's Office, he was subsequently arrested.
Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the routine nature of these checks across Polk County, offering a straightforward advice to retailers. "My advice to anyone who works at an establishment that sells alcohol is to check the IDs of your customers, and do not sell alcohol to anyone under 21. Otherwise, it might be you going to the Polk County Jail next time," Judd advised in a release published on the Polk County Sheriff's Office website.
Operation Pop-Top is not just about capturing the unlawful sale of alcohol to minors. The initiative is also set to ensure that retailers are compliant with the laws regarding tobacco and kratom to anyone under the age of 21. Holding the line against the shadows of illegal substance transactions, this operation forms part of a broader effort to safeguard the youth in places where they occasionally congregate, such as convenience stores and gas stations detailed in the PCSO release.
