NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control found nearly 200 New Orleans-area bars and restaurants have sold alcohol and cigarettes to minors this summer.
The New Orleans Advocate reports popular spots including Borgne, Café Roma, Coops Place, Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar, The House of Blues, Mahony's Po-Boys, Mellow Mushroom, Puccino’s, Tommy’s Wine Bar and Ye Olde College Inn were among those businesses issued citations.
The New Orleans Advocate reports the ATC issued a total of 821 citations this summer as a result of 5,474 compliance checks the agency conducted during the season’s crackdown that found 15% of all businesses they checked were non-compliant.
Citations issued for alcohol sales to a minor totaled 460 and 361 were issued for tobacco sales, the paper reports.
They also report most minors were either 16 or 17-years-old.
The New Orleans Advocate reports fines range from $500 to $5,000, and that penalties could result in suspension or revocation of alcohol and tobacco permits.
