Underage Alcohol Sales Compliance Operation

NEW CANEY, TX -- Deputies with Montgomery County PCT 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden’s Office recently led a compliance check of local businesses to make sure they were turning away minors who were attempting to purchase alcohol.

For almost 5 hours on Wednesday (March 9) evening, 23 MOCO PCT 4 Deputies, along with several underage volunteers, visited 89 businesses in East Montgomery County that sell alcohol. This operation, like several done by PCT 4 in the past, was geared towards making sure businesses stay compliant with the laws in Texas regarding the sale of alcohol to minors.

Most (85%) of the store employees put to the test passed with flying colors. However, 13 arrests were made for alcohol Sale to Minors. Out of the employees who failed to turn the underage customers away, 4 of them actually checked the minors’ IDs first.

In addition to those charged with selling alcohol to minors, other arrests were made: 2 for outstanding warrants, and 1 for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). Citations were also issued to 2 businesses for underage tobacco sales.

In Texas, the sale of alcohol to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine up to $4000, confinement in jail for up to a year, or both.

“I’m proud of the 85% of businesses who were compliant during this operation,” stated Constable Hayden. “It’s up to all of us, including store employees, to keep the youth of East Montgomery County safe, even from their own poor decisions.”

Thank you to our local law enforcement partners, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for sending their transport van, as well as the Roman Forest and Splendora Police Departments for their assistance within their cities.