By Amalia Kortright, For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — Two Shell Gas Stations were put brought before the Trussville City Council on May 24 for allegedly selling alcohol to minors.
Although it was said that both of the gas stations would be put on probation until further notice during the meeting, Mayor Gene Melton said that the council did not take official action against either station.
“The council is the only one who can put the licensee on probation, and they’d have to vote to do that,” said Melton.
According to Mike Gunter, owner and operator of the Deerfoot Shell, the incorrect date was accidentally put into the system during an undercover operation. According to Gunter, the system used to determine whether a buyer is of age is the same for both alcohol and tobacco.
Gunter also said that the clerk who sold the alcohol has been at the same location for four years, and had been previously considered for a management position.
“This lady is our number one cashier, we feel that it was truly a mistake,” said Gunter. “We do take that seriously. The last time it happened was in 2004.”
This is the first time that the Deerfoot Shell has been put on probation. Though that location was put on probation, no further action was taken.
“From our perspective, you’ve been good corporate citizens. We believe that you take this as seriously as we do,” said Councilman Buddy Choat.
The Shell Station on Roper Road was also put on probation after the clerk didn’t ask to see the identification of a 19-year old during a separate undercover operation. According to owner and operator Mr. Mohammed, the 19-year-old was a regular at the store, and had previously presented a fake I.D. in order to illegally buy alcohol.
“The gentleman looked of age. I’ve even sold it to him, myself, thinking he was 21,” said Mohammad. “On that particular day, she was busy, and she sold it to him before.”
According to Mohammed, all employees, including himself, took a four hour course online on how to be a responsible vendor, as a precautionary measure following the incident. The clerk who sold the alcohol has been working there for over a year, had previously worked at another Shell station.
“We have never had any issues with the ABC board or the Trussville Police Department,” said Mohammad. “We understand that it’s a privilege. We checked [the buyer’s] I.D. numerous times in the past.”
According to Mohammad, there are ways to bypass their system if an employee believes a buyer to be over the age of 21.
“You pride yourself on knowing your customer when they walk through the door. Sometimes that bites you,” said Councilman Alan Taylor. “Even if you know them, if they’re young, you’re just going to have to I.D. them.”
Both Shell Stations use the same system in order to determine a customer’s eligibility to buy tobacco or alcohol. The policy at both stores is to terminate any employee who sells alcohol to an underage person. Although no employees were terminated at either store, they have both been placed on probation and unpaid leave.
Both stations were sent letters requesting their presence before the council on May 24. Mayor Melton said the purpose of asking the owners before the council is to make sure the owners understand that selling alcohol and tobacco is a privilege, not a right.
“I wrote the letter, they came, the council asked the questions, they responded,” said Melton. “We take the alchol licensing seriously about selling to minors, and I think we got that point across to them. The purpose is for them to understand how important it is to us, and understand it’s a privlage not a right.”
Melton said that the history of both stations, and their lack of previous violations didn’t merit action at this time.
“This is the first time,” said Taylor. “Both of them should understand that if they come back, it isn’t going to be good.”
21 Comments
Mike Jay
No way not Trussville
Mike Jay
No way not Trussville
Eric Pond
So why aren’t the youths that bought alcohol not under arrest?
Eric Pond
So why aren’t the youths that bought alcohol not under arrest?
Craig Wilson
The police sent the youths in there to test the system. It happens all the time.
Justin Williamson
There’s a Toyota dealership in Trussville?
Kathy Sills
Well done….
Jacob Allen Hudson
You wanna name places that so that??? I’ll be here all day
Andrea Calderone
The usual Trussville witch hunt – underage alcohol. Let’s focus on more important things like the massive amounts of illegal drugs being sold and used.
Jeremy Purvis
I think 18 should be the legal age , if you are an adult, can be tried as one, you should have all the options any adult has
Drake Odeneal
They were minors who chose to identify as 21
Greg Drake
I think if you can fight for our country you should be able to legally sit down and drink a beer
Melissa Gilbert
There are a few more places around Trussville that sell to minors too. Not to mention those who are customers who get stopped by the teenagers in the parking lot who go back into the store to buy for them. And don’t forget the bars in Birmingham that let them in and sell to them. Its a problem but if they can’t get it in one place, they will get it in another.
Lamar Adkins
I was at the Chevron station at 11:30 at night when a boy came in there that looks like he was 16 years old and bought beer and I kept looking at the cash register lady thinking that she would even look up at him all she did was keep your eyes down the whole time and that boy look like he been doing this for a long time. This was just pass weekend
Teresa Cox Chapple
Underage alcohol Leeds to drugs . Need to nip it in the bud.
Andrea Calderone
Teresa Cox Chapple I totally disagree. Smoking marijuana leads to other drugs and Trussville has a terrible heroin and coccaine problem. Not to mention Xanax sold on the streets.
Andrea Calderone
So agree! You can cigarettes but can’t drink a beer. Here, kill yourself with cancer
Tyler David Roe
Melton, get to work on your traffic gridlock in your “downtown”. He needs to appear before his citizens to explain why he has failed to be proactive to try to prevent Hwy 11 from becoming like Hwy 280.
Jeremy Purvis
move out further, thats what you get for city life
Marc Ward
August 23rd you get your chance
Jim Nolan
Many of us are frustrated but many also understand what it takes to get ALDOT to do anything.
I think he’s done an amazing job with what they gave him to work with. Is is perfect? Far from it.
There are too many factors to go into but I suggest you look at the great school that continually attracts more people wanting to live in this community, or the economic development that also brings the residents.
Trussville is having growing pains and, unfortunately, the remediation is slow and tedious.
What suggestions do you have that you think would resolve the congestion in a timeframe to your liking?
Simply having an opportunistic supporter of another candidate chime in (especially when that candidate has also been part of the decision making process) is, in my opinion, really low.
I would honestly like to hear and suggestions either of you might have.