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Demorest council approves compliance terms after underage alcohol sales at Chevron Foodmart
Summary
The Demorest City Council on Jan. 14 approved corrective conditions for Sunny Lahani, licensee of Chevron Foodmart at 1405 Central Ave., after a police compliance check found two underage purchasers. Terms include mandatory TIRV retraining, audits of birth-date overrides, signage and a progress report on April 7, 2026.
The Demorest City Council on Jan. 14 unanimously approved a set of corrective requirements for Sunny Lahani, the licensee of Chevron Foodmart at 1405 Central Avenue, after a police-operated compliance check found staff sold alcoholic beverages to two high-school students, ages 17 and 18.
According to Chief Chastain, the Police Department set up a controlled compliance operation that resulted in two successful purchases by minors; City Attorney Thomas Mitchell then presented a package of remedial measures for council consideration. The measures aim to prevent future underage sales and include retraining, recordkeeping and a follow-up report to the council.
Mitchell recommended that the licensee and all current employees complete The Training Institute for Responsible Vendors (TIRV) course and submit certificates to the city manager by Feb. 1, 2026; new hires must complete TIRV within 10 days of employment and provide their certificates within five days of completion through July 31, 2026. Mitchell also recommended keeping logs or conducting random audits of cash-register overrides tied to birth-date entry, prominently displaying a printed example of an underage driver's license at the point of sale, posting required alcohol-sale signage, and appointing a registered agent within Habersham County in compliance with Section 6-9(b)(5) of the ordinance.
Licensee Sunny Lahani agreed to the terms presented by the city attorney. Councilman Donnie Bennett moved to adopt the recommendations; Councilman Shawn Allen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with a 4-0 vote. The hearing adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
The council scheduled a progress report from the licensee for the regular Mayor and Council meeting on April 7, 2026. The measures imposed are aimed at bringing the business into compliance and documenting corrective steps the city can review at that time.
