Scott City Council to make liquor license decision on two businesses

The Scott City Council is expected to decide tonight whether to renew or revoke liquor licenses for two businesses that repeatedly sold alcohol to minors in police checks late last year and early this year.

In early July the council unanimously voted to place Larry's Store 24 on Main Street and Rhodes Travel Center on Nash Road on extended licenses pending two stipulations. Council members asked that the stores train all their personnel in correct age verification procedures and install cash registers requiring age verification by Oct. 2.

If the stores don't comply, the council said it will revoke their liquor licenses.

The move came after Larry's failed four and Rhodes failed three police checks for compliance on not selling alcohol to minors. Six checks were made since last November.

Both businesses cited high traffic volume at the time of checks and employee confusion between required date of birth for alcohol and tobacco sales as reasons for the compliance failures.

Donna Sharley, general manager of Rhodes Travel Center, said her company has taken the steps required by the city council to keep its liquor license.

"We feel like we have really stepped up to the plate and done more training," said Sharley. "We've not had very good customer acceptance of being asked for their birthdate, but we have to ask everyone.

"We're doing our job. We have a businesses here to run, and we want to do it right."

Calls to Larry and Reba Abbot, owners of Larry's Store 24, were not returned Friday afternoon.

The council also stipulated that licenses would be revoked if the businesses failed in any more compliance checks. At the last city council meeting two weeks ago, police chief Don Cobb said neither business had failed since the July council meeting.

Mayor Tim Porch said Cobb will check in on the stores to see if they've complied with the council's requirements this weekend or today and present his report to the council tonight.

Councilman Norman Brant said as long as the businesses meet the stipulations set out by the council, they will definitely keep their licenses. Brant said the council and mayor are pro-business, but must look out for the health and safety of the city's residents.

"The last thing we want to do is take away somebody's license ... but we have to protect our youth, too," Brant said. "If we have to police the business for them, we'll do it."

Councilman John Crail said he's received information that the businesses have met the requirements set forth by the council.

msanders@semissourian.com

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