MARINETTE, Wis. — Alcohol compliance checks recently done in Marinette County showed five of 44 businesses violated state law by selling alcohol to minors, the Marinette County sheriff reports.

The number is down 7% from 2018 and is the lowest non-compliance rate since the checks began, according to a news release from Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve.

The checks were done Oct. 11 by the sheriff’s Office and county health department with the participation of two 18-year-old volunteers.

Under the direction of deputies, the volunteers acted as decoys, attempting to buy alcohol from stores and stations using marked bills. Both decoys were instructed to present their driver’s license and state their age if asked.

Deputies thanked store clerks who refused the alcohol sale and cited those who did not for selling alcoholic beverages to underage persons.

The checks were part of a proactive approach to stop the sale of alcohol to minors, Sauve said.