By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews (ISC)
Published November 1st, 2024
Polk County, FL. – In a recent effort to curb underage alcohol sales, one clerk from a Davenport convenience store has been arrested following a Polk County Sheriff’s Office sting operation known as Operation Pop Top. The initiative, led by Sheriff Grady Judd, is an ongoing campaign in which deputies conduct undercover visits to assess whether store employees comply with Florida’s minimum legal drinking age of 21.
An 18-year-old member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Cadet Program assisted in the operation by attempting to purchase alcohol at seven different stores across the area over the past week. While six stores were in full compliance with state law, the 7-Eleven located at 49599 US-27 N in Davenport was not. A sales clerk at the location, Rebecca Maree, sold an alcoholic beverage to the underage cadet, leading to her arrest for a second-degree misdemeanor.
“Providing alcohol to minors isn’t only illegal; it can have serious, life-altering consequences. When underage individuals gain access to alcohol, it can result in poor choices, accidents, or even worse outcomes. We each have a responsibility to protect our community, especially our young people, when it comes to stores giving minors access to alcohol. The risks just aren’t worth it.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff