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La Crosse police describe DoorDash alcohol delivery scheme; officers step up compliance checks
Summary
The Judiciary and Administration Committee heard the police quarterly alcohol-compliance report, including a DoorDash investigation that found Express Mart allegedly miscategorized alcohol to enable delivery to campus; the department said it will continue compliance checks and education with businesses and the Department of Revenue.
La Crosse police presented their quarterly alcohol-compliance report to the Judiciary and Administration Committee on June 2, detailing continued compliance checks, two upcoming Department of Revenue operations, and several recent enforcement actions.
Sergeant (police representative) told the committee that some quarterly statistics were incomplete because the report came earlier than usual, but that active compliance checks were underway. The sergeant described a probe into a convenience store at 603 Cass Street—identified in the report as Express Mart (formerly Mileage)—after a tip and a Department of Revenue complaint suggested the store was enabling alcohol orders through DoorDash by mislabeling items. "A lot of the items were miscategorized," the sergeant said, and staff produced examples of grocery items presented online as alcoholic products.
The sergeant said the department conducted a controlled compliance purchase: an underage compliance staffer ordered an item (listed as Fleischmann's yeast) via DoorDash and received an alcoholic product within about 15 minutes. When investigators spoke with the delivery driver, the driver confirmed pickup from the store. The DoorDash listing was later removed; the store received municipal citations and will face administrative follow-up. "They were given multiple citations...and then they'll go to court," the sergeant said.
Committee members asked about liability for delivery services; the sergeant said delivery apps are generally "just the messenger" and that statutory approaches to verification vary by state. Members also pressed on enforcement goals; the sergeant emphasized education first, noting the account removal and the department's intent to meet with the owner before escalating enforcement.
The report also highlighted other compliance matters: a nonrenewal proceeding for Tequila's under the city's three-strikes rule; Chuck's Bar being entered as a chronic nuisance with an abatement plan; and outreach and training done in partnership with the health department on tobacco, vape and hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) rules. The police said they will continue to coordinate with the Department of Revenue and the health department to run targeted checks over the summer.
Committee chair Bridal and members thanked the police for the presentation and asked staff to keep the committee updated on pending court outcomes and follow-ups.
