IMPORTANT NEWS...
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Executes Statewide "Alcopop" Sting
December 6, 2008
TALLAHASSEE—These days there are so many variations of alcohol that come in different sizes, shapes, and colors on the shelves. Friday night, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco conducted a statewide operation to ensure that “alcopops” remain out of the hands of underage people. The term “alcopops” comes from combining the words alcohol and soda pop and describes alcoholic beverages that are pre-mixed with fruit juices or other flavoring. During the statewide operation, 265 establishments were visited and 64 arrests were made for a statewide compliance rate of 76 percent.
“Protecting our youth from the dangers of alcohol is one of our top priorities. Not only does this operation ensure that vendors are in compliance with state law, but also it educates vendors who may not have otherwise known that these ‘alcopops’ contain alcohol,” said Secretary Charles W. Drago.
The operation consisted of compliance checks, where investigative aides under 21 years old attempted to purchase “alcopops” at licensed establishments. Retailers that sold the drinks were issued a Notice to Appear and educated on checking identification and familiarizing themselves with new alcoholic products on the market. The information below shows the results of the operation by city:
Location |
Stores Surveyed |
Arrests |
Compliance Rate |
Miami/Keys |
33 |
14 |
58% |
Ft. Lauderdale |
30 |
12 |
60% |
West Palm Beach |
20 |
5 |
75% |
Ft. Myers |
32 |
4 |
87.5% |
Daytona |
17 |
3 |
82% |
Jacksonville |
15 |
2 |
86% |
Orlando |
15 |
2 |
86% |
Ft. Pierce |
15 |
3 |
80% |
Tallahassee |
22 |
1 |
95% |
Panama City |
16 |
5 |
69% |
Pensacola |
15 |
3 |
80% |
Tampa |
19 |
6 |
68% |
Gainesville |
16 |
4 |
75% |
The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.
The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The Department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.
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