State - Citation was store's first for alcohol sales
Ever-Ready Oil Co., an Albuquerque-based gasoline
distributor, has leased the liquor license for
the Bernalillo Chevron Redi-Mart from Giant Industries
Inc. for nearly three years,
said Peter Olson, spokesman for the Department
of Public Safety. Ron Sims, general manager of
Ever-Ready's retail division, said a store employee
suspected of selling alcohol to Papst has been
suspended without pay while the company investigates
the matter. He said he wasn't sure if the company
had videotape of Papst or the alleged alcohol
sale. Ever-Ready employees undergo extensive training
on the sales of alcohol and tobacco, Sims said.
"We really work hard on making sure our employees
are aware of what the laws are," Sims said.
Giant, which has headquarters in Scottsdale,
Ariz., owns and operates three oil refineries,
including one near Gallup and another near Farmington.
Company officials did not immediately return a
telephone call seeking comment.
The state Alcohol and Gaming Division has not
yet scheduled a hearing on the citation, the division's
director said.
Tomada will decide whether to take any action
against the store's liquor license. Penalties
for a first offense of selling alcohol to intoxicated
customers within a one-year period could include
a one-day suspension of alcohol sales or a fine
ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.
State investigators found evidence the store
sold a six-pack of Bud Light and some beef jerky
to Papst just before 7 p.m.
Nov. 11, according to the state Department of
Public Safety.
The fatal crash brought renewed attention to
New Mex-ico's persistent drunken-driving problem,
which has been the focus of repeated tightening
of state laws. The Attorney General's Office and
a "strike force" appointed by Gov. Bill
Richardson recently released separate new proposals
aimed at combating driving while intoxicated.
Ruben Baca, state executive of the New Mexico
Petroleum Marketers Association, predicted lawmakers
will propose many new bills to restrict or ban
alcohol sales at convenience stores when they
convene for a 60-day legislative session Jan.
16. He said his group will oppose bills to restrict
what is a source of profits for convenience stores,
saying it wouldn't have an impact on drunken driving.
"We always look for a silver bullet,"
Baca said of policymakers.
Federal transportation officials last week released
statistics showing New Mexico in 2005 ranked eighth
in the nation for fatal DWI-related crashes.
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