Business & Tech
UPDATE: Walmart to Serve Five-Day Liquor License Suspension March 4-8
The Oak Park Heights City Council last week suspended Walmart's liquor license for five days and imposed a $1,000 civil fine for selling alcohol to a minor for the second time in less than two years. The suspension will be served March 4-8.
Walmart Liquor will serve out the five day liquor license suspension March 4-8, after a clerk allegedly sold alcohol to a minor for the second time in two years.
The Oak Park Heights City Council imposed the civil sanctions last week. The dates were mutually agreed upon by Police Chief Brian DeRosier and Walmart management.
UPDATED FROM: Feb 13 2013 11:09am
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Marjorie Elizabeth Cogger, 63, of Stillwater was charged with a gross misdemeanor, after she allegedly sold a 24-pack of Bud Light, a 12-pack of Rolling Rock and a bottle of Jagermeister to an 18-year-old West Lakeland Township man.
“This sale was not part of any police compliance checks,” Police Chief Brian DeRosier wrote in a memo to the council. “The investigation was in response to complaint received by officers on duty of possible under 21 persons trying to purchase alcohol at another location and having been refused.”
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The council also imposed a $1,000 fine. This was the second time in 23 months that a clerk at Walmart sold alcohol to a minor.
Oak Park Heights Walmart Manager Amber Wright said after reviewing surveillance video, the clerk indeed sold alcohol to a minor and was immediately fired, per company policy.
“Due to a lapse in judgment by the cashier, she did sell alcohol to an 18 year old,” Wright told the council. “I understand that selling liquor is a huge responsibility you’ve given to me as part of the business community in Oak Park Heights.
“I am very thankful that the police department was there to pull that gentleman over so he didn’t have that alcohol and maybe make worse decisions,” she continued. “A fine is far less of a punishment than something else that could have happened and changed someone’s life forever.”
Wright said Walmart clerks go through alcohol training every year, and are made well aware of the ramifications of selling alcohol to minors.
“Sounds great,” Mayor Mary McComber said. “Sometimes things fall through the cracks.”
The council directed Chief DeRosier to work with Walmart management to decide when the five-day suspension will be implemented.
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