This weekend officers and deputies from the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff?s Office, and State Liquor conducted compliance checks at 85 liquor establishments in the Grand Valley.

The checks included sending an underage person into the business to see if that person could purchase alcohol. Of the 85 businesses checked, 10 sold alcohol to the underage person.

The minors who help in these compliance checks are not allowed to lie about their age and do not carry any form of id (real or fake) into the establishment. They are supervised at all times by officers.

The businesses that are out of compliance must go before the City of Grand Junction or State Liquor Hearing Board, which will determine how the business will be sanctioned. Businesses within the city limits of Grand Junction will appear before the city's board. Businesses in unincorporated Mesa County will appear before the Colorado Liquor Hearing Board.

Businesses face penalties that could range from a fine to a liquor license suspension. A liquor license revocation would only happen if a business was determined to be a chronic violator.

The businesses that were not in compliance are:

The Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws grant that was given to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office this year provided funding for the joint operation.