“Operation Pop Top”— an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. Deputies send high school teenagers into stores to see if they can buy alcohol. The students are PCSO Explorers, which is a program designed for students who are interested in learning about law enforcement careers. 

During the operation, 26-year-old Alicia Charriez of Lakeland, sold an alcoholic beverage to our 17-year-old Explorer while working at the Marathon Store located at 3017 US Highway South in Highland City. Charriez was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21 and transported to the Polk County Jail.
 The following stores were found to be in compliance with Florida beverage laws:

1. Lulu’s Café and Fuel,  78 S 5th Street, Eagle Lake.
2. Chevron, 558 US Hwy 17, Eagle Lake.
3. Racetrac, 11023 Hwy 17, Eagle Lake.
4. Citgo, 4660 US Hwy 17, Bartow.
5. Circle K, 310 W. Main Street, Bartow.
6. 7-Eleven, 1020 US Hwy 98 S., Bartow.
7. Sunoco, 1385 Broadway Avenue, Bartow.
8. Racetrac, 1690 Broadway Avenue, Bartow.
9. 7-Eleven, 6175 US Hwy 98 S., Highland City.
10. Racetrac, 4285 US Hwy 98, Highland City. 

“We are going to hold store employees accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. It’s their responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores and employees found in compliance did a great job following the law. We congratulate them.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff