ALBANY — The state Liquor Authority caught 34 out of 67 shops selling beer to underage customers during a two-day sting operation in Queens that began Nov. 16, the authority said.
The authority partnered with the NYPD to catch bodegas and grocery stores all around the borough selling alcohol to volunteer decoys who participated in the project, which it said is part of a larger effort to cut down on sales of booze to those under 21.
Stores that violate the law are fined between $2,500 to $3,000 for their first offense, and total fines could reach $10,000 for a single violation.
In response, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) and state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) are sponsoring a bill in their respective houses that would require input from community boards before a license to sell alcohol could be given to stores.
