Buffalo Grove Businesses Refuse Underage Alcohol Sales

Buffalo Grove was among a number of Lake County towns that conducted liquor compliance checks in conjunction with Homecoming season.

The police department sent teens into local establishments to see if the businesses would allow them to purchase alcohol using identification showing they were underage.

All 15 businesses checked in Buffalo Grove turned the underage customers away.

The checks were part of an initiative by the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force which was formed to combine the efforts of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lake County After School Coalition in the prevention of underage consumption of alcohol. This group is made up of a diverse group of citizens including community members, parents, law enforcement personnel and other professionals interested in preventing underage drinking. 

“Consistency from community to community and monitoring underage drinking issues will help us be successful in addressing this problem and saving lives. Our desire is to see 100 percent compliance, but it is refreshing to see the majority of businesses realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants,” said Bruce Johnson, chairman of the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force.

The compliant Buffalo Grove stores were:

• Al & Al Liquor
• Aldi
• Binny’s Beverage Depot
• Buffalo Grove Pantry
• CVS Pharmacy
• All three Dominick’s locations
• Osco Drug
• Seoul Supermarket
• Val’s Liquors
• All three Walgreens locations
• 7-Eleven

Sale of alcohol to a person under 21 years of age is illegal under local and state laws and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, fine or probation.