Underage Drinking Crackdown in Tempe Results in 249 Arrests
A significant investigation into underage drinking in Tempe, Arizona, led to the arrest of 249 individuals at the Tempe Tavern last week.
This operation, which took place last Thursday, was reportedly the second major police raid on the establishment within the last year. The incident stemmed from an underage patron who purportedly used fake identification and provided inaccurate information. Previous reports of compliance violations have raised questions about the bar’s responsibility in serving its customers.
Penalties are under consideration pending the ongoing investigation, and the bar may face a suspension of its liquor license.
According to the Arizona Department of Liquor Control (ADLLC), the operation was a collaboration between their department and the Tempe Police, resulting in comprehensive inspections and the mass arrests.
The police stressed that this initiative targets underage drinking specifically, stating it is a serious issue nationwide. They encouraged individuals to always carry valid identification and to reconsider any alcohol purchases if they are underage.
Out of the 249 arrested, 246 were quickly cited and released, while the remaining individuals were booked into the Tempe City Jail.
Tempe Tavern asserted its commitment to cooperating with authorities, although it refrained from commenting in detail due to the active investigation.
A detective lieutenant from ADLLC mentioned that any potential sanctions, like license suspensions or fines, would only be imposed after Tempe police conclude their inquiry. It’s worth noting that a similar raid in April led to an additional 167 arrests at the same bar.
Following the incident, the tavern management communicated on social media that neither the establishment nor its employees had faced any citations for prior incidents from the Liquor Commission or Tempe Police.
The tavern acknowledged the challenge of counterfeit IDs, stating they scan all IDs at the entrance. However, they noted that some fraudulent identifications might still get through undetected.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Tempe Tavern maintained its compliance with the law, saying they had not received any citations. Both the Tempe Police and the ADLLC have not yet provided comments on the situation.
