Monday, January 27, 1997
CRIME:
Expressmart’s liquor license was suspended for two weeks in
JanuaryBy Hannah Miller
Daily Bruin Contributor
Village Expressmart, a much-frequented convenience store in
Westwood, had its alcohol license temporarily revoked earlier this
month as punishment for its second violation in the last year.
A first violation, cited in April of last year, carried with it
a $3,000 fine. Since the more recent violation was the second
within 36 months, Expressmart could not opt to pay the fine and had
to halt alcohol sales between Jan. 2 and Jan. 16.
As Expressmart owner Al Klein explained it, such violations were
isolated incidents. "We train our employees to turn down any sale
if they can’t produce an ID," he said. "Unfortunately, we had two
employees who disregarded those instructions."
The clerks involved in both incidents have been fired and face
individual criminal charges with possible fines of between $250 and
$500, Klein said.
Since 1995, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
has implemented a "three strikes" policy. If a retail store
accumulates three violations within a 36-month period, its license
to sell alcohol is automatically revoked.
With two violations in nine months, the Village Expressmart is
"very much jeopardizing their license," according to Edward
Mimiaga, district administrator with ABC.
Expressmart paid two fines for identical charges in March and
September 1990. "Between 1990 and 1996, we were probably ‘shopped’
by the ABC hundreds of times," said Klein. "And nothing
happened."
The most recent sting operation was fairly routine and went
according to police procedures. In the sting operation, ABC
officers employ minors to shop for alcohol, and if asked for ID
they show their own.
After either purchasing or being denied alcohol, the minor then
exits the establishment. If the minor is sold alcohol, they return
to the store with local police. In the case of Expressmart, the ABC
minor purchased a single can of beer.
Recounting the story, Klein said that "the kid told the clerk a
story about being tired from working all day, and wanting just one
beer."
Had he wanted to buy "thousands of dollars’ worth of alcohol,"
Klein said, "the bust might have been more understandable."
Controls on alcohol are more highly enforced in the UCLA area.
"ABC tends to ‘shop’ around college campuses a lot," commented
Expressmart manager Mike Sulprizio. Mimiaga concurs, estimating
that West L.A. police come through Westwood multiple times every
year.
As far as Expressmart’s finances go, Sulprizio said, "if you
can’t sell, it’s gonna hurt." Clerk Micah Aubach reflected that "it
was kinda slow, but my paycheck stayed the same."
CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin
Expressmart in Westwood had its liquor license revoked several
weeks ago for selling to minors and, despite rumors, will not be
shut down.