Clerks busted selling beer to minors

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is targeting businesses that sell alcohol to minors along Interstate 35, a  route most college breakers spring breakers travel to get to South Padre Island.

"That's our main focus- is stops that these spring breakers will take," said Lt. Jimmy Zuehlke with the TABC. "We all know through history that they might buy alcohol on the way down to their destination."

TABC agents and undercover minors hit 129 businesses and issued citations to 18 store clerks who sold alcohol to the minor.

"There's no trickery involved at all- either the clerk does their job- or not," said Lt. Zuehlke. "You still have 18 locations that did not do their job- that's too many- one is way too many."

Clerks at three businesses in Travis County were ticketed, including one at the Fiesta Mart near I 35 and 39th Street.

Just to the north, at 53rd and I 35, a clerk at a Walgreens failed to ID an underage buyer. It was the same story at the Chevron gas station near I 35 and Parmer.

The clerks could face a $4,000 fine.

More stiff punishment could be handed out to the stores, which face the possibility of losing their liquor licenses.