WESTBROOK – Westbrook police cited three local retail stores for selling liquor to minors after an Aug. 29 undercover inspection of all 17 licensed retail liquor sales locations.

Police Capt. Tom Roth said the state Department of Public Safety’s Liquor Licensing and Inspection unit technically has jurisdiction over such matters, but in 2003, the state abolished the unit’s enforcement arm, leaving enforcement up to local police departments.

Roth said underage criminal justice students from area colleges went undercover to try to buy alcohol from each of the retail stores. Roth declined to identify the three businesses that sold to the minors, but said the cases will be referred to the state unit for further action, which could include fines and/or mandatory training for employees.

“These liquor compliance checks will continue and Westbrook police hope that every clerk in every store is asking for identification with every sale of alcohol,” Roth said.