A sales clerk in Mulberry has been arrested for selling alcohol to an 18-year-old, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest was part of the ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign, where deputies check if store personnel sell alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21, Florida’s legal drinking age. Over the past week, 10 stores were inspected, and only one, Sunoco at 1790 Shepherd Road, failed the compliance check. The sales clerk, Nupoor Jankan, was arrested for the second-degree misdemeanor of selling alcohol to a minor.
“Selling alcohol to minors is not just against the law; it can lead to terrible consequences. When underage kids get their hands on alcohol, it can lead to poor decisions, accidents, or worse. We all play a part in keeping our community safe, so let’s make sure we’re protecting our young people by not selling them alcohol. It’s just not worth the risk,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
The person attempting to purchase alcohol was an 18-year-old member of the PCSO’s Cadet Program. The other nine stores checked were found to be in compliance with state law.
For more information about the PCSO Cadet Program, visit: https://www.polksheriff.org/programs-services/cadet-unit-1000 .