Minor Sting Operation- Angelina County

In an effort to decrease the consequences of alcohol purchased by minors, The Coalition, Inc. partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct alcohol compliance checks, with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink/purchase alcohol are used as decoys to enter businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol and then attempt to purchase alcohol.

“We know that underage drinking leads to increased risks of sexual assault, impaired driving and long-term addiction. That’s why it’s critical for all of us, as a community to do everything we can to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors,” said Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition Inc. “Alcohol compliance checks remain one of the most effective tools for preventing illegal sales to youth, and The Coalition is proud to partner with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department, TABC, and TxDOT to support enforcement efforts that help keep our community safe for young people.”

During the January and February minor sting operations, there was one store who sold to minors and nineteen who did not. We commend those stores who did not sell alcohol to minors in our community and recognize them for helping to combat underage drinking:

• On the Road #103, 4110 S. First Street, Lufkin, TX, 75901

• Diboll Depot, 1605 N Temple Dr, Diboll, TX 75941

• Charge Up #66, 605 N. Temple Drive, Diboll, TX, 75941

• Dollar General Store #1695, 225 N. Temple Drive, Diboll, TX, 75941

• Brookshire Brothers #35, 221 N. Temple Dr, Diboll, TX, 75941

• Charge Up #65, 701 S. Temple Drive, Diboll, TX, 75941

• Diboll Food Mart, 500 N. Temple Drive, Diboll, TX, 75941

• Snappy Food Mart Crown Colony, 101 Champions Drive, Lufkin, TX, 75901

• Big’s 3823, 909 S Medford Dr, Lufkin, TX, 75901

• Brookshire Brothers #52, 885 A Hwy 69 S, Huntington, TX, 75949

• Tobacco Barn #52, 885 B Hwy 69 S, Huntington, TX, 75949

• Huntington Travel Center, 191 S US Hwy 69 Huntington, TX, 75949

• Dollar General Store #7405, 790 Hwy 69 S, Huntington, TX, 75949

• Brookshire Brothers Express #81, 198 E Main St, Zavalla, TX 75980

• Coleman’s, 188 Old Hwy 147, Zavalla, TX, 75980

• Dollar General Store #10131, 231 Hwy 147, Zavalla, TX, 75980

• Family Dollar #32691, 199 E Main St, Zavalla, TX 75980

• Family Dollar #26758, 593 Hwy 69 S, Huntington, TX, 75949

• New Way, 461 S US Hwy 69, Huntington, TX, 75949

One business did sell to minors, and administrative action was taken against the individual who sold the alcohol:

• Snappy Food Mart Diboll, 1580 N. Temple Dr, Diboll, TX, 75941

Sale of alcohol to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail, or both. Persons 21 or older can be held liable for damages caused by the intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcoholic beverages on the premises owned by or leased by the adult.

The Coalition, Inc. is funded in part by a grant from TxDOT to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in Texas. Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information on how to prevent underage drinking, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308.