8 businesses accused in teen drinking sting

Eight St. Charles businesses are expected to face fines after police say they sold beer to a teenager.

Six of the establishments sold beer "with no questions asked" to an undercover 19-year-old man Wednesday, police said. Two other repeat offenders did the same about 60 days ago, officials said.

One accused business, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5036, 119 N. Third St., will go before the city's liquor commissioner, Mayor Don DeWitte, at 5 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 2 E. Main St. A hearing for Ray's Evergreen Tavern, 1400 W. Main St., has been temporarily delayed.

DeWitte said the VFW, which is facing its second citation this year, will be told to pay $1,000 in fines and fees. Ray's, which is facing its third citation this year, faces $1,500 in fines and fees.

The other six -- Charlie Fox's Di Fantastico, 3341 W. Main St.; Corfu Restaurant, 2520 E. Main St.; Dimitri's Mediterranean Grill, 3755 E. Main St.; El Puente, 112 E. Main St.; Hotel Baker, 100 W. Main St.; and 18 North, 18 N. Fourth St. -- are first-time offenders, DeWitte said.

They are expected to go before the liquor commission in December.

DeWitte declined to comment further on the latest round of citations, saying he has not yet had a chance to review all the reports.

Only two businesses -- Chipotle Mexican Grill, 3821 E. Main St., and Giordano's, 3641 E. Main St. -- did not sell alcohol in Wednesday's sting, according to police.