Sheriff's office conducts drinking bust

Two East County businesses were caught selling alcohol to minors during the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s underage drinking operation Oct. 10.

According to sheriff’s office reports, employees at Soprano’s of New York, 8744 S.R. 70 E., and BP gas station, 8406 S.R. 70 E., sold alcohol to juvenile confidential informants. The involved employee at both establishments was charged with selling/serving alcohol to minors.

The operation investigated 49 businesses throughout Manatee. Of those, 21 were caught selling to a minor.