Liquor store to have license suspended. Establishment one of six to sell alcohol to minors in sting

WOOD RIVER -- Corral Liquors will lose the liquor license for its Wood River store for three days, starting New Year's Day, for selling alcohol to a minor during a police "sting" operation last month.

Mayor Fred Ufert, who also serves as the city's liquor control commissioner, suspended Corral's license after an employee was caught selling alcohol to a minor on Nov. 11. He said because the store at 965 E. Edwardsville Road had been caught in the past for selling alcohol to minors and had its license suspended for one day last year, he found it necessary to increase the penalty.

"The city has a zero-tolerance policy of selling alcohol to minors, and it seems the only way a business learns its lesson is when its license is suspended," Ufert said.

Ufert said he knows suspending a liquor license would affect a business' potential sales revenue. He said he hopes the suspension will serve as a reminder to business owners to instruct employees that it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 21.

"(Business owners) are responsible for the actions of their employees," the mayor said.

Wood River police, with assistance from Chestnut Health Systems and the Madison County Health Department, conducted compliance checks at 30 businesses that serve both package and open alcohol. Other businesses caught selling to minors during the check included: Bojac's, Chico's Lounge, Club 501, Daddie O's Night Out and Shop 'n Save.

Dimple Aggrawal, the wife of the store's owner, Arvind K. Aggrawal, said she understood the decision made by the mayor.

"It was an employee's mistake," Dimple Aggrawal said. "It should not have happened."

Aggrawal said the employee did not lose her job.

"She is a very nice employee, and she had no clue how it happened," she said.

Aggrawal said the woman generally always asks for identification and denies the sale of alcohol to minors. She said the woman didn't deserve to be fired for one mistake that she regrets making.

City Manager Jim Schneider said a letter was sent to the six establishments that failed compliance. Each letter stated that the owner or manager or designated employee would be required to attend an education and training class for beverage alcohol sellers and servers at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 at Wood River City Hall. Schneider said Sgt. Darin Redden with the Wood River Police Department would conduct the educational and training program.

Schneider said employees of the establishments are not mandated to take the class; however, they are welcome to attend if they would like. He said anyone who works as a seller or server at any Wood River establishment could join the class.

Ufert suggested the class so that an owner or manager and employees would know the consequences of their actions.

"(The city) is trying to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors, and this class teaches responsibility," Ufert said.

Aggrawal said she sees the class as a good thing.

"It's always good to have something in place," she said.

Police records show that although bartenders and clerks at the six establishments asked for identification, which was clearly marked "Under 21," they still sold alcohol to minors.