On Thursday, May 31, 2012, Polk County Sheriff’s School Resource deputies, along with the assistance of a PCSO Explorer (Explorers are high school student volunteers), conducted “Operation Pop Top” in an effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. The operation was conducted in the Winter Haven area.
Ten stores were checked, and all of them were found in compliance with Florida State Statutes.
The clerks at the following stores refused to sell alcohol to the minor:
CVS – 3005 State Road 540 W, Winter Haven
MVP Food Mart– 3006 State Road 540 West, Winter Haven
JK Food Citgo – 3355 Spirit Lake Rd, Winter Haven
Circle K – 4980 Spirit Lake Rd, Winter Haven
Publix Pix – 1108 Spirit Lake Rd, Winter Haven
7-Eleven – 4000 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven
Sunoco – 3317 Ave G NW, Winter Haven
Sunoco – 2727 K-Ville Ave, Winter Haven
Citgo – 2102 Thornhill Rd, Winter Haven
Sunrise Supermarket – 3035 Thornhill Rd, Winter Haven
"I'd like to commend the clerks at the above-listed stores for joining us in our efforts to combat the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. It doesn't take but a second to ask for ID, and then verify that the buyer is of legal age to purchase these items. Those we have arrested in the past for selling to minors, I'm sure regret the fact that they didn't take the time to double-check. We will continue to monitor all of the stores in Polk County until we have 100% compliance." - Sheriff Grady Judd