HERMISTON – Nine of 17 Umatilla County businesses visited in a compliance test June 21 by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission sold alcohol to a minor.

Eight of the nine violators were Hermiston businesses: The Cozy Corner Tavern, Heller & Sons Distributing, the Hermiston Grocery Outlet, the Pheasant Cafe & Lounge, Shari’s of Hermiston, Short Stop No. 1, Western Express and the Hermiston Liquor Store. The other violator was Charlie’s Tavern in Umatilla.

Two OLCC inspectors and a minor volunteer conducted the compliance testing. The volunteers attempted to buy alcohol from licensees or their employees to determine if they were properly checking identification and obeying state law prohibiting alcohol sales to anyone under 21.

Minors participating in such tests carry their own legal ID and are advised not to disguise their age.

Licensees whose employees provide alcohol to the minor, or fail to verify their age, face administrative sanctions, including fines or license suspensions. Store clerks who sell to minors are cited into court and face a $350 fine.

Several Umatilla County businesses visited in the June 21 test refused to sell alcohol to the minor. They included Echo Hotel Restaurant and the Flying Buffalo Saloon in Echo, Hermiston 76, Hermiston Tavern, Las Mananitas in Hermiston, Banana Joe’s Bar & Grill in Stanfield, and the Crossroads Truck Stop, Desert River Restaurant and Zip Trip in Umatilla.

The OLCC tests about 1,000 licensed liquor businesses annually and a number of police agencies also do compliance checks.