Kennesaw Man Arrested After Selling Alcohol to Minor

The Smyrna Police Department arrested two employees of Discount Tobacco and Red Lobster Tuesday after they sold alcohol to a minor.

A 25-year-old Kennesaw man was arrested by the Smyrna Police Department after selling alcohol to a minor at Discount Tobacco in Smyrna. Smyrna police conducted an alcohol compliance check Tuesday at 17 Smyrna businesses. The Department’s Street Crimes Unit sent an underage informant to the 17 locations as part of an effort to reduce underage drinking, in partnership with the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce. "Employees from 15 Smyrna businesses did exactly as they should—they checked IDs and refused to sell to minors," said Smyrna police spokesperson Michael Smith. Employees from two businesses, Arman Khaleghi, 25, of Kennesaw, and 29-year-old Anika McCoy of Marietta, were arrested after they checked the informant's ID and sold alcohol to the minor…

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Speak Out: Will Kennesaw Law Curb Underage Drinking?

Adults who let teens drink at their homes could face fines or jail time.

Adults in Kennesaw may want to think twice before they let teens drink at their homes. They could face fines or jail time under an ordinance the Kennesaw City Council adopted Monday night. If teens are drinking on the premises, the social host ordinance holds adults responsible. The vote was 4-0-1. Councilman Bill Thrash was absent.

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What You Didn't Know

VIDEO: Cobb Alcohol Taskforce Tackles Underage Drinking

The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce teams up with civic organizations and the government to help reduce underage drinking.

The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is conducting a community survey to help identify effective strategies to reduce underage and youth binge drinking. More than 2,000 participants from Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna and unincorporated Cobb County are needed by Sept. 30. A similar survey was previously conducted in 2009 as a requirement of the Sober Truth On Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Grant.  Click here to take the survey online or access it on the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce website at www.cobbat.org. Representatives of the following community sectors are encouraged to participate: business, civic, education, faith, government, healthcare, justice, law enforcement, media, parent, non-profit and youth. For more …

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Underage Drinking Webinar Today

The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center is sponsoring an afternoon session for families and youth.

According to the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce, teens are more likely to be on the road this time of year and parents are cautioned that the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has been labeled the "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers. Statistics from the American Automobile Association indicate that an average of 399 teens died in traffic crashes during each of the summer months, compared to a monthly average of 346 teens during non-summer months. The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center will host an online webinar 3-4:15 p.m. today, to provide families with skills to help keep teens safe. The webinar will discuss seven essential family skills, including communicating politely, setting boundaries, monitoring youth activities and …

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Council Ratifies Liquor License Revocation

The Council upheld its decision in regards to Randy's Liquor Store after the business sold alcohol to a minor.

Randy's Liquor Store at Roberts Road remains unable to sell alcohol following a decision Monday night by the Kennesaw City Council to ratify the revocation of the business' liquor license. The Council unanimously voted to revoke the store's liquor license on May 7 as a result of the business selling alcohol to a minor. Owner Randy Ha was already under probation for a previous violation. R. Scott Estes, an attorney representing Ha, proposed that instead of revocation, Ha's license be placed under suspension for a maximum of 45 days. During that time, Ha would voluntarily take an alcohol awareness course, purchase a new register which would require entry of birthday to process a transaction, card all entrants at the door to ensure no minors …

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Cobb Alcohol Taskforce

11:09 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

We appreciate Kennesaw City Council for their decision to hold businesses accountable to alcohol licensing and regulatory requirements. We would prefer to see all businesses comply with all alcohol sales laws, but sometimes revoking the alcohol license of a business that has sold alcohol to a minor while on probation for previous violation is needed to protect the quality of life for all citizens…   more ›

Safe Graduation Celebration Tips

The Cobb Alcohol Task Force is encouraging youth and families to mark the special day responsibly.

As high school graduation ceremonies near and friends gather to celebrate, parents are encouraged to know their responsibility to provide a safe environment for their graduate. Parents who are tempted to permit the use of alcohol by their graduate and friends can be subject to criminal and/or civil action for illegally providing alcohol to minors. According to Georgia law, parents cannot give alcohol to their teen’s friends who are under age 21, under any circumstances. However, Georgia law states parents can allow their own child to consume alcohol under their direct supervision and in their own home. Under these parental exceptions, should a child drink to intoxication and cause harm to another after leaving their home, parents can be …

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Alcohol Task Force Needs Your Help

Take 10 minutes for a survey to help the Cobb community.

The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce and the Cobb County School District are conducting a community survey online, and they need volunteers. Anyone from age 9 and up can help out. Just click on your age group: When you get there, use 1050 for your survey invitation code and "Cobb County School District: Cobb" for your prevention agency. For more ways to take action against underage and binge drinking, including conducting community assessments, visit the task force's website. More on the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce:

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Letter to the Editor: Underage Alcohol Sales

In this letter to the editor, Cathy Fink of the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce responds to Kroger's 60-day suspension.

The recently reported illegal sale of alcohol to minors is a recurring issue at some Cobb County Kroger locations. It is important for Cobb Commissioners to take these illegal sales seriously and issue sanctions that are effective at deterring future violations. It remains to be seen whether a 60-day suspension of Kroger's alcohol license at its Powder Springs Road store will result in sustained compliance. Government and business practices proven to help prevent underage alcohol sales do exist and need to be utilized. Law enforcement use of compliance checks and government use of effective administrative sanctions have proven helpful. Business use of effective alcohol policies, hiring, training and management practices can also help. …

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Cobb Forum to Tackle Teen Drinking

Learn about the problem and solutions Thursday night live on Kennesaw Patch.

Cobb County will be talking about underage drinking Thursday night, and you can be part of the conversation. The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is marking National Alcohol Awareness Month by gathering a panel of local experts to discuss how underage and youth binge drinking affects the community and what can be done about it. You’re invited to join the audience in the Cobb Board of Commissioners boardroom at 100 Cherokee St. Or you can watch the forum live here on Kennesaw Patch or through the task force’s website. Either way, you can participate by submitting questions for the panel and by using what you learn to help solve the problem of underage drinking. The 2010 Georgia Student Health Survey found that among Cobb County School District 12th-…

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Shell Sells Alcohol to Minor

The Cobb County Police Department conducted an alcohol compliance check Thursday.

The Shell Food Mart in Kennesaw received three citations for selling alcohol to a minor during an alcohol compliance check conducted by Cobb police Thursday. The business, located at 465 Ernest Barrett Pkwy., was the only one of six establishments that failed the check and sold alcohol to an underage volunteer. The following businesses passed the compliance check: Jimmy Macs, 3205 Canton Road in Marietta. Sportsline Grill, 2359 Windy Hill Road in Marietta. Folia Brazilian Steakhouse, 1360 Powers Ferry Road in Atlanta. Barrett Exxon Food Mart, 550 Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. Chicago Pizza, 3405 George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw. While Jimmy Macs, Sportsline Grill and Chicago Pizza passed the compliance check, they received citations for …

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