Baby faced Bronxites buying booze from bodegas without ID

Here is a story that didn't make this week's paper. Enjoy.

By Amanda Macaluso

The Bronx’s underage drinkers are having no problem buying booze in the borough.

The New York State Liquor Authority released a report last week that shows 38 of 48 bodegas visited by 18- to 20-year-old decoys in the Boogiedown sold alcohol to minors without asking for identification.

From Aug. 15 through Aug. 17, the SLA sent voluntary, underage decoys into 212 groceries throughout New York City to have them try and buy alcohol. In 123 out of the 212 stores (58 percent), the decoys were successfully able to purchase alcohol without being asked for I.D. 

Out of the five boroughs, the Bronx by far had the highest percentage of minors who were successfully able to purchase alcohol, at 79 percent. In Brooklyn, 59 percent of the bodegas approached failed to I.D. minors. Staten Island bodegas sold to 40 percent and Queens bodegas sold to 28 percent. Groceries who were cited for selling to these minors can face penalties of up to $10,000 per violation with fines starting at $2,500 to $3,000 for first time offenders.

Jump below to read the SLA's statement, and also how the Bronx Press did its own independent study and found that some bodegas are still selling alcohol without checking I.D.!

A crackdown on nutty drinks in barbershops

It may be a nutty world, but at least there will be less nutty drinks on the streets.

In some northern Manhattan and Bronx barbershops, "nutcracker" drinks have been sold to minors, and up until last week, barbershops that were caught selling nutcrackers were allowed to keep their barber's license. "Nutties," as they're also called, are fruity, sugary, colorful and strong alcoholic drinks. The drink generally combines multiple types of hard liquor including vodka, whiskey, and rum with sugary juices like Kool-Aid. A loophole in the old law allowed barbershops to continue to operate, even after they were caught selling the nutcracker.

 

“The deadly consequences of mixing alcohol with minors are well known and especially dangerous when the alcohol is sold in the form of fruity, easy to drink beverages that are targeted towards young people,” said state Senator Adriano Espaillat, one of the sponsors of the bill that was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week.

Espaillat and Assemblyman Nelson Castro applauded Gov. Cuomo for signing the law that will protect minors from the dangerous drinks. The law, also sponsored by Castro, will crack down on the selling of the nutcrackers.

“The law will close loopholes and crack down on scrupulous barbershops that sell the nutcracker and other varieties of the drink," Espaillat said. "I commend Governor Cuomo for signing our bill and look forward to taking further steps to protect the safety and well-being of young New Yorkers.”

"The signing of our nutcracker bill is a victory for all those who are concerned about underage drinking, " Castro said. "Nutcrackers contain a high level of alcohol…indeed we do not know what other illegal or dangerous ingredients are added which can be toxic, threaten the health of minors and can even kill them. This legislation will help protect our children and reduce the number of locations where minors can purchase these drinks."

Check back tomorrow or Thursday for another alcohol related story.