Crystal Council Holds Multiple Votes on Failed Alcohol Compliance Checks
Crystal City Council members had the unfortunate task this week of doling out fines and punishment after multiple businesses failed police compliance checks for selling alcohol to minors.
The task was made more difficult as council members struggled to find a majority consensus on civil penalties.
The violations occurred at various places from convenience stores and gas stations, to a pair of family restaurants, to a VFW post.
For some council members, there was significant concern, especially with sales of cannabis products on the horizon.
“You kind of want to feel sorry for the business owners when really truly, what we need to feel sorry for is the youth in our society who are finding easy ways to get access,” said Crystal City Council Member John Budziszewski. “Because once they find out that a business is selling to underaged people, they flock there like it’s no tomorrow.”
For one of the violators, Klever Liquor, it was its second violation in a two-year period.
Budziszewski pointed out that a driver’s license for an underaged customer is different than for someone 21 and older. A driver’s license for a person under 21 is vertical and says “under 21” highlighted in red.
“The state has made the IDs so it’s obvious that this person is not eligible to be purchasing alcohol,” said Budziszewski.
Another council member, Traci Kamish, remarked how Crystal is a smaller city yet has a “really large number of liquor stores.” She also acknowledged how Crystal’s civil penalties compares to other area suburbs.
“Our penalties are less than neighboring communities,” said Kamish.
Penalties for failed compliance checks
Under Crystal’s city ordinance, businesses who fail a police compliance check may receive up to three-day license suspension and a fine of $1,500.
First-time violators could receive a one-day license suspension and a fine of $750.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Crystal City Council held multiple votes for each business in trying to decide on punishment.
“It’s got to start here. It starts with us. We’re responsible. We’re responsible for holding up our ordinances,” stated Budziszewski, a father of a teenager. “They need to change the culture in their business.”
The city council ultimately decided on the following penalties:
- Klever Liquor – second violation in 24-month span, three-day license suspension and $1,500 fine
- Milton’s Cafe – first violation, $750 fine, no license suspension
- Speedway, 7818 36th Ave. N. – first violation, $750 fine, no license suspension
- VFW Post #494 – first violation, $750 fine, no license suspension
- Family Cafe and Diner – first violation, $250 fine, one-day license suspension.
Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering said there was a “misstep” in how an underage decoy carried out the compliance check for Family Cafe and Diner, which resulted in the council deciding on a lesser fine.
