One business out of 20 in Umatilla County failed an undercover operation and sold alcohol to a minor.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission reported Gotta Stop Mini Mart, 1580 W. Highland Ave., was the outlier. Nineteen other businesses the liquor commissions sting targeted in Hermiston, Stanfield and Umatilla refused to sell alcohol to a minor volunteer.

Gotta Stop manager Shelly Warren said the business fired the employee in question and plans to have a meeting Tuesday to address the rules for selling alcohol.

Were dealing with it, she said.

Liquor commissioner spokeswoman Christie Scott said Gotta Stop will face a penalty, but the agency hasnt calculated that yet. She said the fine will depend on the number of violations at the business within the past two years. If this is the first in that time, the commission would likely penalize Gotta Stop $2,000. But if the business has regularly violated the law, the commission could revoke its liquor license, she said.

Gotta Stop was one of eight Hermiston businesses that failed a minor decoy sting in 2009, according to a liquor commission news release.

Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said his agency appreciates the liquor commissions efforts to ensure compliance. A failing grade could happen at any place that sells alcohol, he said, and comes down to employees, management and training. He said he was sure Gotta Stops owners and managers would correct any problems.

Though Gotta Stop failed, the 19 other businesses pushed the compliance rate to 95 percent, which the commission stated is significantly above the 2011 statewide average of 76 percent. Its also above nearby Union and Wallowa counties, which scored 92 percent when one business out of 13 sold alcohol to a minor.

During the sales checks, a minor volunteer attempts to purchase alcohol from a licensed business to see if staff are correctly checking identifications and refusing to sell alcohol to anyone under 21. Commission inspectors or other law enforcement officers supervise the volunteers, who have to use their own legal ID that identifies them as under 21. They also cannot disguise their age or lie to encourage the sale of alcohol, according to the commission. The Oregon drivers license for a minor carries a red border around the picture with the words Under 21 until followed by the date of his/her 21st birthday.

The commission conducts the minor sales checks to reduce underage drinking in Oregon. Licensees or their employees could be held liable for alcohol-related damages and injuries if they serve or sell alcohol to a minor.

Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833.