Update: 11:50 a.m.
During the last week of January 2013, Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson was contacted by the state's Alcoholic Beverage Commission for assistance in a underage sale of alcohol to minors investigation. The ABC has been conducting these type of investigations across East Tennessee for the past several months.
During the course of the investigation, ABC agents, local agencies and Hawkins County Sheriff's Office Deputies went throughout the county where alcohol is sold. At the conclusion of the two day investigation this past Thursday and Friday 17 businesses had allegedly sold beer to a minor.
The first phase of the investigation is complete. Future investigations will be conducted as time permits. The employee at the business whom sold the beer was cited into General Sessions Court for Sale of Alcohol to a Minor.
"The investigation is solely a response to maintaining compliance in our community of alcohol sales," said sheriff Ronnie Lawson. "The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office works closely with all agencies for the betterment of the community. The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office wants to thank Alcoholic Beverage Commission and local agencies assisting in conducting the investigation. The investigation is not designed to bring negative impact on the businesses but to keep the employees working at the business attentive when checking the identification of the ones who attempts to purchase the alcohol in Hawkins County."
The control of underage sale of alcohol is the most important tool that Law Enforcement and the community has in deterring anyone under the age of 21 from obtaining alcohol. Lawson said the investigation is continuing, no other information or details will be released at this time.
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ROGERSVILLE - Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson confirmed for the Times-News Monday that his department conducted a successful underage beer sales sting operation last Thursday and Friday.
A total of 17 beer selling establishments were cited including 10 located within a municipality and seven located in unincorporated parts of the county. Some of the establishments cited are stores, and at least one is a bar, Lawson said.
The reports were still being compiled Monday and the investigation is ongoing, but Lawson said anticipated releasing more information at some point Tuesday.