Summer Surge in Alcohol Sales Means More Underage Sting Operations

May signals the start of a busy season for alcohol sales, and for enforcement. Summer brings more customers, more transactions, and more risk. As business heats up, so does the chance of failing an underage compliance check. This time of year, sting operations ramp up across bars, restaurants, and retail alcohol sellers.

Enforcement agencies know what’s coming: graduation parties, Memorial Day celebrations, and long weekends. All of these bring more opportunities for underage buyers to slip through the cracks. If your staff isn’t ready, your business could be the next headline for an alcohol license violation.

Now is the time to tighten your compliance procedures before sting operations ramp up.

Why Summer Triggers More Compliance Checks

The reason is simple: summer is when underage drinking spikes, and regulators know it.

Graduation parties in May and June are prime time for teens trying to get alcohol. Then comes Memorial Day, followed by a wave of summer holidays and outdoor events. With more people out drinking, enforcement agencies increase their presence to reduce underage access.

Many states boost funding for alcohol compliance checks during this season. Law enforcement agencies often partner with local organizations or state alcohol control boards to carry out sting operations. These stings are meant to catch businesses off-guard, and in many cases, they succeed.

The focus isn’t just on chain stores or nightclubs. Small-town bars, restaurants with outdoor seating, liquor stores near schools or neighborhoods, all are targets. In some states, agencies even publish the results of sting operations publicly, turning compliance failures into public relations disasters.

Summer is when enforcement gets more aggressive, not less. That’s why alcohol retailer compliance has to be top priority now, not later.

How Sting Operations Work

A typical underage sting operation is simple. An underage decoy, usually 16 to 19 years old, attempts to purchase alcohol while under supervision by law enforcement. In most cases, the decoy is instructed to be honest about their age if asked and not to present a fake ID.

If the employee serves or sells alcohol to the underage buyer, the business may be cited. In some jurisdictions, both the employee and the business owner can face legal consequences. A single mistake can result in heavy fines, suspension of your alcohol license, or worse.

Alcohol compliance checks vary by state, but the goal is always the same: catch violations in real-world conditions. Agencies don’t give advance notice. There are no warnings. And they often target businesses during their busiest times, when mistakes are more likely.

Failing even one sting can put your business at risk. And in some cases, regulators conduct follow-up stings shortly after a violation to see if the issue has been corrected, or if it’s part of a larger problem.

Real Consequences of Failing a Sting

The penalties for selling alcohol to a minor can be severe. Fines often range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the state and whether it’s a first-time or repeat offense. More serious violations can result in temporary or permanent suspension of your liquor license.

In March 2025, a sting operation in Arlington Heights, Illinois led to fines for three establishments, including a Chuck E. Cheese location. The Chuck E. Cheese was fined $1,000 for selling alcohol to a 16-year-old undercover informant and for having an employee with expired state certification in the Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training program. The employee bypassed the ID scanning system by manually entering a random birth date, leading to their termination. Additionally, Aldi and Egg Harbor Cafe were fined for similar violations during the police sting operation .

In another case, in February 2025, the Reno Police Department carried out underage alcohol compliance checks at 16 businesses across the Reno and Sparks areas. Seven of those establishments failed by selling alcohol to underage volunteers, even though the buyers presented valid IDs that clearly showed they were under 21. The operation highlighted ongoing weaknesses in ID verification and the urgent need for better staff training and enforcement policies.These are not isolated stories. Public records show that businesses across the country continue to fail alcohol compliance checks each summer - especially in high-traffic, high-volume months like May, June, and July.

And insurance carriers are watching. Some now factor compliance history into liability premiums, especially if your business has prior violations.

The message is clear: enforcement isn’t optional, and excuses don’t help after the fact.

How to Prepare: Practical Steps for Alcohol Retailers

The good news? You can reduce your risk with a few focused actions—starting now.

1. Train Your Staff Thoroughly

Make sure every employee knows how to check IDs properly. That means more than just looking at the date. They should know how to spot fake IDs, how to stay calm when customers push back, and how to follow company policies consistently.

Use short, scenario-based training sessions. Practice refusals. Make it routine.

2. Use Technology Where You Can

Scanners and digital age verification systems can help reduce errors, especially during busy hours. While they aren’t foolproof, they show regulators you’re making an effort to prevent underage alcohol sales.

3. Post Clear Signage

Visible signs about ID requirements help staff enforce the rules and reduce pressure from customers. Post signs near registers, behind the bar, and on coolers if you’re a retailer.

4. Review Policies Before Peak Weekends

Before Memorial Day or other major events, meet with staff to review policies. Remind them that compliance is non-negotiable. Let them know that refusing a sale is always the right call if there’s any doubt.

5. Conduct Mock Stings Internally

This is one of the most effective tools available. Anonymous mock sting operations simulate real-world compliance checks using trained testers who attempt to buy alcohol under the same conditions as a real sting.

Mock stings show you where the gaps are, before regulators find them. They also give staff real accountability. And unlike training, they test actual behavior under pressure.

At Stinger Compliance, we run these mock stings for businesses nationwide. They’re fast, discreet, and affordable, and they prevent far more expensive consequences down the line.

Closing Thoughts

May isn’t just the start of summer, it’s the start of sting season. That means more risk for your business if you’re not actively managing alcohol compliance.

Regulators are watching. Enforcement is increasing. And the penalties are real.

The solution isn’t complicated: train your staff, test your systems, and make compliance part of your everyday operations. One careless sale can shut down a bar, damage a brand, or trigger a suspension that costs thousands in lost revenue.

Need help staying compliant? Stinger Compliance specializes in anonymous mock stings to ensure your business is ready for any challenge. Learn more at stingercompliance.com.