The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office cited five local store clerks for selling alcohol to a minor during a recent undercover operation by the Juvenile Alcohol Task force (JATF) in partnership with the Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

The operation was hosted in conjunction with other agency initiatives targeted at preventing crime caused by impairment during the holiday season and on New Year's Eve. On Wednesday, personnel visited 25 convenience and liquor stores throughout Sarasota County. The following business were found to be in violation of selling alcohol to a person under 21, and at each location clerks were given a misdemeanor Notice to Appear citation.

1. Circle K/Shell, 1801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
2. Shell, 6000 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
3. 7-Eleven, 5420 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
4. Marathon, 3605 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
5. 7-Eleven, 1721 N. Honore Avenue, Sarasota

The other 20 businesses in Sarasota were in compliance and will receive a letter to commend owners and employees for helping reduce the sale of alcohol to minors.

The results of this operation are forwarded to the Florida Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, which licenses alcohol sales at each establishment.