Four Arrested In Alcohol Sting In The Eastwick Area

by David Flint
State Police conducted an Underage Drinking Initiative in the Eastwick area on Saturday, July 6 and several local businesses were caught in the sting. As part of the investigation, Police recruited an undercover underage volunteer to enter each of five establishments where beer or liquor is sold. [private]Four arrests were made for serving or selling alcohol to a minor.
Arrested were Jana Nelson, 20, of Stephentown at the Cumberland Farms store in Stephentown; Victoria Sikorski, 21, of East Nassau at the Bridgeway Bar & Restaurant in Cherry Plain; Sara Cramer, 29, of East Nassau at the Backwater Grill in Canaan; and Jonathan Post, 55, of Cherry Plain at the Beer Diviner Tap Room and Market at the intersection of Routes 22 and 43 in Stephentown. All were charged with one count of Unlawfully Dealing with a Child, a class A misdemeanor. The businesses will be referred to the New York Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Post had the grand opening of his Beer Diviner Tap Room just two weeks ago. The incident happened, he said, just before 6 pm closing time on Saturday when a large, young man sporting a goatee beard walked into his establishment. Acknowledging that, “This is a wake-up call,” Post said his policy going forward will be to card anyone who looks like they could possibly be under 35 years of age.
State Police advised in a press release that, “Alcohol consumption by underage consumers has a profound effect on our communities.  Teen alcohol consumption is related to traffic accidents, fatalities and crime. The New York State Police would like to thank Rensselaer County businesses for their support in preventing underage drinking.”[/private]