Smithville Police cracked down on illegal sales to minors last week, performing an undercover operation that cited seven local stores and employees for selling beer, cigarettes and vape products to underage buyers.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said the operation was conducted using an undercover minor to make the purchases, and was based on public complaints about the sales.

“During the last few days, the Smithville Police Department did an undercover operation targeting establishments here in town that sold beer, cigarettes, and vapes. We have had complaints from parents and concerned citizens that some of these stores were selling to people underage,” Collin explained.

“During this investigation we targeted nearly every store in town that sold beer or tobacco to the public and seven buys were made to an undercover informant. In some cases the clerks asked for an ID and still sold it. None of the other stores we went to sold to our undercover agent, and I want to commend them for that,” said Collins.

“When someone does something right, I like to brag on them and in this case, I have written out a statement to the people who did not make the illegal sale that says the following: In the past few days the Smithville Police Department has conducted undercover beer and cigarette buys within the city limits of Smithville. During this operation we found that your business was in compliance with all state laws in regard to the sale of beer and or cigarettes to minors. I want to thank you for being a responsible vendor and doing your part in keeping beer and tobacco out of the hands of our juveniles. I signed this and the mayor signed it also,” said Chief Collins.

Among those cited in the investigation were:

Kimberly Rhea of Moses Discount Tobacco, Vape, and Beer on Walmart Drive (beer/cigarettes)
Yolanda Ruiz of Mercado Chabelita on East Broad Street (beer)
Linda Oliver of Sunoco on East Broad Street (beer)
Brandy Jackson of Smithville Discount Wine & Spirits on East Broad Street (beer)
Shelia Herron of Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard (beer)
Caroline Michaels of Save-A-Lot on South Congress Boulevard (cigarettes)
Diab Barham of Mid-TN Vapor Stop of East Broad Street (vape cartridge)

Each clerk was cited for sale to a person under the legal age to make the purchase. They are scheduled for a court appearance on January 26.

Store owners, licensed to sell alcohol by the Smithville Beer Board or Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, are also in trouble may have to pay fines and answer to licensing authorities.

Smithville adopted a new beer ordinance in October 2022, which includes a Responsible Vendors Program that is voluntary but requires participating vendors to comply with employee training requirements.

In exchange for complying with the program, certified vendors receive reduced punishments for any illegal sales to minors. Once certified, participating vendors are not subject to permit revocation or suspension upon an initial violation, but are subject to only a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 per offense of sale to a minor or other offense. Permanent revocation will not be allowable absent two violations within a 12-month period under state law.

Nonparticipating vendors face higher civil penalties. A noncompliant vendor guilty of sale to a minor is subject to suspension or revocation or a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500. These discrepancies in punishment provide a major incentive for retail vendors to become certified.