OKEECHOBEE - Operation Buzzkill was created due to multiple complaints that convenience stores and gas stations were illegally selling alcoholic beverages and tobacco to minors under 21 years old.

Operation Buzzkill targeted stores located in Okeechobee County by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office to eliminate the illegal activity of providing alcoholic beverages to minors and prevent underage drinking in Okeechobee County.

Additionally targeted were businesses selling tobacco items to those under the legal age. Unlike the alcohol sales, NO businesses sold tobacco products during this operation to underage participants.

Operation Statistics

Stores investigated: 24

Undercover buy attempts: 29

Stores that had clerks that sold alcoholic beverages to a minor – 8

Percentage of stores that had clerks that sold to a minor – 28%

The following stores were investigated:

1. Town Star – 12800 SR 70 E
2. Marathon – 8605 US Highway 441 SE
3. Fastbreak – 1505 SR 78 W
4. Handy Store – 2790 US Highway 441 S
5. Murphy Gas Station – 2109 S Parrott Ave
6. Sunoco Gas Station – 511 S Parrott Ave
7. Marathon Gas Station – 118 S Parrott Ave
8. Marathon Gas Station – 2398 SR 70 W
9. Circle K – 237 US Highway 98 N
10. Cracker Trail Country Store – 18084 US HWY 98 N
11. Ft Drum Convenience Store – 31309 US HWY 441 N
12. Metrogas Station – 14025 US HWY 441 N
13. El Rancho Supermarket – 3901 US HWY 441 N
14. One Stop Food Store – 1212 SR 70 E
15. RaceTrac Gas Station – 1596 SR 70 E
16. Bill’s Mini-Mart – 3007 SR 70 E
17. A and J Discount Foodmart – 4340 Southeast 26^th Street
18. Shell Gas Station – 3609 US Highway 441 Southeast
19. Citgo Gas Station – 3621 Southeast 34^th Ave
20. TownStar Gas Station – 3993 SR 710
21. ABC Fine Wine and Spirits – 601 NE Park ST
22. Sunoco Gas Station – 3093 US HWY 98 N
23. Mary Ann’s Corner Store – 30 US Highway 98 N
24. Shell Gas Station – 1865 SR 70 W

The following stores illegally sold alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 21:

1. Town Star – 12800 SR 70 E
2. Marathon – 8605 US Highway 441 SE
3. Murphy Gas Station – 2109 S Parrott Ave
4. TownStar Gas Station – 3993 SR 710
5. ABC Fine Wine and Spirits – 601 NE Park
6. Sunoco Gas Station – 3093 US HWY 98 N
7. Mary Ann’s Corner Store – 30 US Highway 98 N
8. Shell Gas Station – 1865 SR 70 W

 All store clerks or employees who sold alcoholic beverages to minors violated F.S.S. 562.11(1) (A) – Sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 and were issued a court date to appear. This operation is active and ongoing.