With college students home for the holidays, Cherokee County conducted a surprise test to ensure businesses are keeping alcohol out of the hands of people under 21. While most businesses passed, two slipped up.
Here’s Why It Matters: Many parents and neighbors worry about underage drinking during the holiday season. Ensuring that local businesses follow ID laws helps keep roads safer and gives peace of mind to families during festive gatherings.
What happened: On Dec. 4, Cherokee County’s deputy marshals visited 69 businesses with volunteers under 21 to see if they would sell alcohol without verifying IDs.
• Good news: Only two businesses failed. That’s less than 3% of the total.
• The two businesses cited: Citgo on Bells Ferry Road in Acworth and Circle K on Cumming Highway in Canton.
What this means for families: Chief Deputy Marshal Dwayne Casteel noted that this is the time of year when underage attempts to buy alcohol rise. “We appreciate the majority of the businesses prioritizing safety and the law and ensuring they are properly checking IDs.” he said.
For parents, this is a step toward making Cherokee County safer, especially as teenagers and college students have more free time during the holidays.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
