Two businesses fail recent sting operation
BROOKINGS – Two businesses who hold liquor licenses in Brookings County, the Midway Camp and Bar and Schade Vineyard, failed recent alcohol compliance checks done by the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office on April 7.
At the April 19 Brookings County Commissioners meeting, Brookings County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kevin Murfield outlined that 10 businesses in the county were checked. He explained that a 20-year-old female who works for the Sheriff’s Office entered each of the establishments and attempted to purchase alcohol.
“Both of those two checks, the bartender or the server failed to even ask for an ID or identify the individual I sent in,” Murfield explained.
Commissioner Le Ann Pierce noted that this wasn’t the first time that Shade Vineyards had failed.
“I believe anything that would happen would be more on the side of the state and their compliance side,” Mufield said. “For me, personally and criminal charges, I just need to go in and have a conversation with the server.”
The server or bartender who was responsible for the failed check will get cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor, 18-21-years old, Murfield said.
The businesses or establishments that passed the alcohol compliance check were the Ridge (Bruce), the Jay Street Pub (Bruce), the Dollar General (Volga) Valley Mart (Volga) the Brookings Country Club, Elkton Municipal Lounge, Skyview Junction (Elkton), and Gas N’ Goodies (White).
This was the first time that the Midway Camp had been checked since getting a liquor license, Murfield noted.