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During a huge summer shakedown of over 5,000 businesses in New Orleans, Alcohol and Tobacco Control has busted 15% of establishments it randomly tested for selling booze (or tobacco) to a minor, according to The Advocate. Yikes.
The ATC has issued 821 citations in New Orleans this summer, with 460 of those issued for alcohol sales to a minor--primarily undercover 16 and 17 year olds. About 200 of those citations went to bars and restaurants. While that number seems high, it actually 'aligns with previous years' according to the ATC, which has continued to increase its random compliance checks during summer for the third straight year.
Restaurants busted for selling dat booze to underage drinkers include Borgne, Ye Olde College Inn, Tommy's Wine Bar, El Gato Negro, Coop's, Mahony's Po Boys, Baru, Felix's, Chiba, Little Chinatown, Cuban Restaurant and other Williams Blvd. hotspots in Kenner and more (full list here), which means lots of servers and bartenders have been forking over major fines. Plus, these operations could face steeper penalties including the loss of a booze permit altogether.
