5 Arrested During Underage Drinking Crackdown

Five out of 14 downtown bars targeted during a Thursday sting to squelch underage drinking were willing to serve minors.

That’s from the St. Petersburg Police Department following its joint operation with the Florida Division of Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco. During Thursday evening’s sting, the department used underage volunteers to see if bartenders at 14 different establishments would sell minors alcohol, an email to media from the department stated.

Five bartenders were arrested as a result of the operation. They are:

• John M. Young, 42, bartender at Mastry’s, 233 Central Ave.
• Molly McCoy, 22, bartender at Crowley’s, 269 Central Ave.
• Wesley Cardinal, 33, Bartender at The Avenue, 331 First Ave. N.
• Brittany A. Barber, 25, bartender at Ringside Cafe, 16 2nd St. N.
• Christopher Gorby, 35, Bartender at Ruby’s Elixir, 15 3rd St. N.

All five were charged with selling, giving or serving alcohol to a person under 21.

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