WINONA, Minn. – Two licensed liquor vendors, Acoustic Cafe and River City Grill, failed the latest police compliance check on serving underage customers. Eleven other licensees passed. The checks, the third this school year, are a joint project of the Winona police and sheriff’s departments and the volunteer group Alliance for Subject Abuse Prevention. The goal, said Deputy Police Chief Jay Rasmussen, was to encourage license-holders to assure their operations comply with the law against serving minors. No arrests were made nor were citations issued in the “soft educational” project. Will there a fourth 2023 compliance check? Rasmussen said the goal was three this year. But he added: More are possible. “Next time,” he said, “the education will come with sanctions.” Liquor licenses are issued by the City Council and subject to revocation.
Police gig 11 liquor vendors in underage stings
Earlier: Cops sweep Port 507 for under-age drinkers: 10 found
Earlier: Winona bar compliance checks on hold
Compliance ratio
The pass-fail ratio has improved since previus compliance checks. April: 10 passed, six failed. Septenber: 11 passed, 12 failed. The latest check:
Failed
> River City Grill, in the Plaza Hotel, 1025 East U.S, Highway 61.
> Acoustic Cafe, 77 Lafayette Street
Passed
> AmericInn, 303 Pelzer Street.
> American Legion, 302 East Sarnia Street.
> Black Horse, 34648 Old Homer Road.
> Blooming Grounds, 50 East hird Street.
> Eagles Club, 210 East North Street.
> Fairfield Inn, 925 Bruski Drive.
> Highway 61 Liquor, 1213 Gilmore Avenue.
> Nosh Scratch Kitchen, 102 Walnut Street.
> Port 507, 128 West 2nd Street.
> Two Brothers, 129 West Third Street
> Walmart, 955 Frontenac Drive.
> Winona Athletic Club, 773 East Fifth Street.