7 accused of selling to teen-agers

Police say compliance checks will continue.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township police hit the streets with a group of teens and discovered how easy it is for underage drinkers to get service at some area nightspots.
Plainclothes officers checked 15 of the township's 46 businesses with permits to sell alcohol Friday and Saturday. All the businesses received prior notification of the inspection, yet seven establishments served up the beverages anyway, police said.
Fearless servers: Ground Round Restaurant on South Avenue, Inner Circle Pizza on Boardman-Poland Road, Rachel's Restaurant on South Avenue, Lonestar Steakhouse on Boardman-Poland Road, and Bull & amp; Bear Tavern on Boardman-Poland Road all served alcohol to underage individuals working with police, they said.
Bartenders at two businesses, English Pub, recently under new ownership, and The Office, both on Boardman-Poland Road, checked the identification of the underage operative and still served the alcoholic beverage, police said.
All seven bartenders accused of selling the alcohol were arrested. Each of those employees likely will be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and, if convicted, fined not less than $500 and no more than $1,000. Those convicted could also be jailed for up to six months.
Other businesses who checked the identification of the undercover buyers and refused to sell the alcohol were Camelot Lanes on Boardman-Canfield Road, Salty Grogs on Boardman-Poland Road, Outback Restaurant on Tiffany Boulevard, Tabby's Ribs & amp; Chicken on Boardman-Poland Road, Tiffany Bar & amp; Grill on Tiffany Boulevard, and Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden Restaurant, both on Boardman-Poland Road.
Mario's Restaurant on Youngstown-Poland Road was also checked, but had only nonalcoholic beer on the premises.
Police said the purpose of the checks is to estimate how easy it is for underage drinkers to get alcohol in the township. The checks will continue on a regular basis, police said.
The last compliance check was conducted in December 2000 and netted five arrests.