Marshal's Office: Hickory Flat Store Sold Alcohol To Minor

Photo credit: Patch file

A Hickory Flat convenience store has been cited for allegedly selling alcohol to underage minors.

The Cherokee County Marshal’s Office on Tuesday, Nov. 25 joined forces with the State Department of Revenue and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct a joint operation in an effort to identify establishments selling alcohol to customers under the age of 21.

According to the marshal’s office news release, 32 locations were checked and one location — Valero at 8769 Hickory Flat Highway in unincorporated Woodstock — was “found to be in violation, as they sold alcohol” to an underage customer.

“The clerk received a citation and will have to appear in (Cherokee County) Magistrate Court,” said Major Jamie Gianfala with the marshal’s office, adding the location will also be subject to local and state administrative hearings.

“Having only one store out of 32 stores not checking identification is certainly a good thing and is what we are after: compliance in these stores and restaurants doing their part in keeping alcohol out of the hands of our children,” added Chief Marshal Ron Hunton.

The Cherokee County Marshal’s Office plans to continue these types of operations in effort to reduce the opportunity of children possessing alcohol in Cherokee County, Gianfala added.

Anyone wishing to report an establishment who is selling or allowing minors to purchase alcohol can call the marshal’s office at 678-493-6200.