Five Winnsboro businesses that sell alcohol and tobacco products were issued citations for selling these items to a minor during a compliance check by the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety.

Wal-Mart, 721 Highway 321 Bypass, sold alcohol to a minor; Gaz-Bah Mini Shop, 239 S. Congress St., sold tobacco products to a minor; Winnsboro Package Store on South Congress Street, sold alcohol and tobacco products to a minor; Master Shell on South Congress Street, sold tobacco products to a minor and Food Lion, 133 Highway 321 Bypass S., sold alcohol to a minor.

All of the businesses have to appear in court.

“Normally the business owner has to pay a fine, in addition to the person who sold the item being fined,” said WDPS chief Freddie Lorick.

The businesses should be able to continue to sell alcoholic beverages and tobacco products unless they are a habitual offender, Lorick added.

The compliance checks were held between April 6-9. Between 12-15 stores were involved in the checks.

Dubbed the “Spring AET Blitz,” the check was coordinated by the Alcohol Enforcement Team for the month of April.

“There was a news conference on April 1 letting businesses know we would be out enforcing alcohol laws,” Lorick said.

The checks, Lorick said, gave Public Safety a chance to make sure business owners were being honest and following the law by not selling alcohol and tobacco to minors.

Also last Friday, WDPS along with the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office held safety check points at several intersections in the county.

“As a result of the safety checks, there were at least two arrest made in the city and four arrest made in the county for various traffic violations,” Lorick said.

Safety checks will continue to be held randomly until the end of the year.