Knox County Beer Board accepts $1,000 penalties after sheriff's compliance checks find underage sales

The Knox County Beer Board on June 22 accepted $1,000 civil penalties from two businesses after sheriff's compliance checks found sales of alcohol to underage buyers.

The Sheriff's Department reported that on May 26, 2026, at about 19:14, detectives conducting compliance checks at High School Market (9443 High School Road, Delano, District 7) found that an underage person entered the business and an employee did not request or review the minor's driver's license before completing the sale. The employee was issued a misdemeanor citation. Owner Pallavi Patel pleaded guilty and told the Board she would "be very careful" and train employees to prevent a recurrence. The Board offered a choice between a $1,000 civil penalty and a 30-day suspension; Pallavi Patel chose to pay the penalty. Commissioner Thompson moved and Commissioner Jackson seconded the motion to accept the penalty; roll call approved it.

At about 19:53 on the same evening, detectives reported a compliance check at the Shell/Marathon Gas Station at 2116 West Emory Road (District 7). The employee requested and reviewed the customer's license, which showed the customer was 19, but the transaction was completed nonetheless and the suspect was issued a misdemeanor citation. Owner Parth Kumar Patel told the Board that his employees must scan IDs and that he had told staff to check birth dates and scan every ID; he also chose the $1,000 civil penalty rather than a 30-day suspension. The Board voted to accept that penalty after a motion by Commissioner Frazier and second by Commissioner Jay.

Sheriff's Office reports and the owners' guilty pleas were the basis for both penalties. Board members repeatedly urged owners to use available training and resources (the Metro Drug Coalition was recommended) to avoid future violations.