Warrenton – Fifteen of 16 licensed businesses in Clatsop County refused to sell alcohol to a minor during recent compliance testing by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and Warrenton Police.

The joint operation was conducted under a grant to the Clatsop County Reduce Underage Drinking Task Force, said Inspector John Eich, of the OLCC’ s Warrenton office, who added he is pleased with the low sales rate.

“It’s not unusual to see sales rates of 25 to 30 percent when we haven’t tested in an area for awhile,” Eich explained. “When we get only one sale, that means the majority of licensees and employees are doing a good job of checking ID and keeping alcohol away from minors.”

Mulan, 1605 E. Harbor Drive, Warrenton, was the lone business to sell to the minor, the agency said. Servers and bartenders or licensees whose employees provide alcohol to the minor or fail to verify their age, face administrative sanctions including fines or license suspensions. Store clerks who sell are cited int o court and face a $350 fine.

Compliance checks are a key regulatory component of OLCC’s mission to prevent underage drinking, which is a critical problem in Oregon and across the nation, said Teresa Kaiser, executive director. During the year, the agency checks more than 1,000 liquor sellers and local police agencies also do a number of checks.

These businesses refused to sell to the minor: Hammond KOA, Fort Stevens Center, Buoy 9 Restaurant & Lounge, Coleman’s Cove, Corkey’s Grocery, Warrenton Pizza Hut, Rite Aid, Twin Spruce Tavern, Warrenton Mini Mart, Dooger’s Seafood & Grill, El Compadre Restaurant, the Iredale Inn, Fred Meyer, Fultano’s Pizza/Bubba’s Sports Bar and Harbor Street Cigarettes and More.

An OLCC inspector, police and a minor volunteer conducted the compliance testing Dec. 17. During the checks, volunteers attempt to buy alcohol from licensees or their employees to determine if they are properly examining identification and obeying state law prohibiting alcohol sales to anyone under 21.