These NYC Businesses Sold Booze To Underage Customers

NEW YORK — Three dozen New York City businesses were caught selling booze to underage buyers in a recent statewide sting by the State Liquor Authority, officials announced Wednesday. The 36 merchants were among 141 across the state where underage "decoy" customers able to buy alcohol during the three-month operation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said.

Authorities spotted sales at 13 establishments in Manhattan, 11 in Queens, eight in The Bronx, three in Brooklyn and one on Staten Island. The full list, which includes restaurants, liquor stores, convenience stores and one bar in the city, is available here.

"Underage drinking can lead to bad decisions and dangerous situations that can have lifelong consequences or needless tragedy," Cuomo said in a statement. "Through on-going enforcement efforts, we will continue to crack down on this dangerous behavior and target businesses that break the law by selling to minors and underage adults."

The Liquor Authority sent decoys to a total of 506 businesses with liquor licenses in 30 counties in August, September and October, officials said. Some 365 merchants refused to sell to the underage customers, but the others made illegal sales, according to the governor's office.

Businesses face penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for selling to underage buyers, and repeat offenders can have their licenses suspended or revoked, officials said.

Investigators from the Department of Motor Vehicles also busted 271 people younger than 21 for trying to buy alcohol with false identification upstate and on Long Island, the governor's office said.

"If you acquire a fake identification, it doesn't matter what state it appears to be from. Our investigators will quickly be able to spot the fraud, and you will be arrested," said Terri Egan, the DMV's executive deputy commissioner and the acting chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, in a statement.

(Lead image: Photo from Shutterstock)