BY AMY CALDER

Staff Writer

Stores that carry liquor, beware: If you try to sell to underage buyers, you're likely to get caught.

At least that appears to be the case in Waterville and Oakland, where on Tuesday an undercover operation caught four out of 23 stores selling to someone younger than 21.

The person buying the alcohol was a Kennebec County sheriff's corrections officer who is between the ages of 18 and 21. The operation was conducted by the Northern Kennebec Underage Drinking Task Force, including a Waterville officer and an Oakland officer who issued summonses Tuesday.

That force is made up of police, sheriff's officials, health groups and youth advocates working to prevent underage drinking and to educate businesses, parents and youths about the dangers and risks of underage drinking.

"When we go out to do these compliance checks, we are hoping for compliance," Waterville police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said Wednesday. "We are, for all intents and purposes, thinking the sale is going to be denied. We're happy when that happens."

On Tuesday, however, four businesses were summonsed for selling to a minor -- an administrative civil violation that could mean a fine of up to or more than $1,000 depending on whether a business has other violations, and what the history of the owner's license is, according to Rumsey.

In cases where prior problems exist, a liquor license may be suspended.

Business owners or managers whose stores received summonses Tuesday said they have worked hard to prevent such sales from occurring by making sure their clerks are educated about false IDs, people using other people's driver's licenses and the like; but some clerks allowed the purchases Tuesday.

Daniel Marsilio, manager of On the Run, on Pleasant Street in Waterville, said he has been in the business 12 years and this is the first time one of his employees has had a liquor violation.

"They know. They go to alcohol and tobacco training classes. They take the liquor and tobacco exam prior to hire," Marsilio said. "You can have God watching over them, almost, and still, this can happen."