ARDMORE, Okla – Authorities say underage drinking is on the rise across our area. But on Friday night the Ardmore Police Department took a stand against the practice. Undercover police officers accompanied minors into more than a dozen convenient stores around Ardmore to see if store clerks are doing the right thing by checking people’s ID’s and refusing to sell to people underage. Shelby Levins got to ride along for the entire sting operation.

“This operation tonight is due to the number of complaints we've had from parents (of stores selling alcohol to minors,)” said Ardmore Detective Billy Turner. “It's coming up on summertime, a bunch of kids are getting out of school, so we're going to try to get this before it gets out of hand.”

After a short brief and explanation from Detective Turner the undercover operation was underway and our cameras were rolling. Three minors ages 16, 18 and 19, along with a handful of police officers, and First News visited 17 convenience stores around Ardmore. Most vendors were like Pak-a-Sak on North Washington and refused to sell to the underage teens. They were thanked for doing the right thing.

“You've done a very good job. Thank you so much. Now if more did it, it'd be good,” Detective Turner said to the Pak-a-Sak clerk.

But not every store was as diligent about their practices. The Wig’s Wag-Bag on Lake Murray Drive and the Kangs off of North Commerce were both caught selling beer to the minors. Ardmore Detective Justin Brown wrote both clerks a citation.

We went into to talk to the clerk at the Kangs, but the store owner told us the clerk who had sold the beer to the minor had already been fired and sent home.

“He's been fired. He's wrong so he's fired,” said another co-worker.

Detective Brown says he thinks the sting operation was a success.

“It basically makes the community more aware. Even if we just had a couple business cited for the violation you still have a situation where the entire community is aware of the problem,” said Brown.

Detective Brown said while this operation was meant to crack down on offenders, it’s about more than the clerks and a six pack of beer. It’s about making the entire community of Ardmore safer.

“Juveniles shouldn't be drinking. It's against the law for the reason. This is to get the roads safer and make the community safer,” said Brown.

Both clerks who were given citations are scheduled to be in court in May. Both face pending misdemeanor charges.