Liquor license revoked at Tulare Mini Mart

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A mini-market must stay dry for the time being after it sold alcohol to minors on several occasions.

Selling alcoholic beverages is out of the mix for Tulare Food Mart -- at least for the next year after the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, revoked its license Thursday.

Supervising Agent in Charge, Jason Montgomery says the store sold alcohol to minors three times in a three year period, in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

The action was taken now because there were appeals.

"Someone that's sold alcohol to a minor, we take very seriously, and we want to protect our youth, we want to protect our community," Montgomery said.

Montgomery says the investigation started with a complaint.

One of the violations came after the department's use of their Minor Decoy Program.

The others were observed with the help of Tulare Police. The store's owner did not want to speak on camera but his son says they regret what has happened and would like to move on.

He also says the family-run business will take a huge hit because of this but that they will try and reapply for an alcohol license in one year.

Montgomery said, "Once the year is expired, someone else or the people that actually own the store itself could attempt to reapply for a new alcohol license at that location."