In June 2025, Wake County ABC Law Enforcement conducted its largest underage alcohol sting to date. During the two-day operation, supervised 18- and 19-year-olds attempted to purchase alcohol using their real but underage IDs.
Out of 193 stores tested across the county, 41 failed — resulting in a 21% failure rate. That means more than 1 in 5 businesses illegally sold alcohol to minors.
📊 Compliance Check Results
|
Metric |
Value |
|
Total stores checked |
193 |
|
Stores that sold to minors |
41 |
|
Failure rate |
21.2% |
|
Clerks charged |
30+ |
|
Juvenile clerks (not criminally charged) |
4 |
|
Store owner charged (no permit) |
1 |
⚠️ Why This Matters
Selling alcohol to someone under 21 isn't just a mistake—it’s a criminal offense with serious consequences:
- Employee arrests
- Fines and license suspension
- Increased risk of DUI crashes and underage harm
- Permanent brand damage
ABC officials say these compliance checks happen 3–4 times a year—and often intensify around summer and major holidays. For businesses that fail, the cost is more than financial.
✅ How an ID Scanner Can Prevent This
Human error is the #1 cause of underage sales. Whether it’s poor math, misreading a license, or trusting someone’s appearance, mistakes happen — unless you use an automated ID scanner.
Minor Decliner: The Trusted ID Scanner Solution
Minor Decliner’s ID scanner system instantly:
- Calculates age by reading the barcode on the back of a license
- Flags expired or underage IDs
- Maintains a compliance log for auditing
- Optionally detects 90%+ of fake IDs with Intellicheck® built-in
Why Businesses Rely on It:
- Accuracy – No more guessing if someone’s 21.
- Speed – Results in under one second.
- Protection – Prevents your employees from being arrested.
🛡️ Turn Compliance from a Risk into a Strength
This Wake County crackdown proves one thing: relying on manual ID checks is risky. Over 30 employees were arrested, and dozens of businesses now face penalties that could have been avoided with the right technology.
Installing an ID scanner like Minor Decliner protects:
- Your business license
- Your team members
- Your reputation
And most importantly—it protects our youth from accessing alcohol before they're legally allowed.
📞 Ready to Protect Your Business?
Minor Decliner’s ID scanner is simple, fast, and effective. With proven results across the country, it’s trusted by thousands of retailers to eliminate age verification errors and reduce fake ID risks.
Don’t wait for a sting to expose your weaknesses. Install an ID scanner that works—every time.
📲 Contact Minor Decliner today to learn more.
