OPERATION POP TOP: One sales clerk in Mulberry arrested for selling alcohol to a person under 21

The Polk County Sheriff’s office operates an ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign in which deputies visit various stores to see if store personnel would sell to an alcoholic beverage to someone under 21 years of age (Florida's minimum age for legal alcohol consumption). 

The person attempting to purchase alcohol was an 18-year old member of the PCSO's Cadet Program. Over the past week, a total of 10 stores were checked for alcohol sales; one store (Sunoco, 1790 Shepherd Road in Mulberry) sold alcohol to the 18-year-old cadet. The other nine stores checked were found to be in compliance with state law. The Sunoco sales clerk, Nupoor Jankan, was subsequently arrested for selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 (a second degree misdemeanor). 

“Selling alcohol to minors is not just against the law; it can lead to terrible consequences. When underage kids get their hands on alcohol, it can lead to poor decisions, accidents, or worse. We all play a part in keeping our community safe, so let’s make sure we’re protecting our young people by not selling them alcohol. It’s just not worth the risk” – Grady Judd, Sheriff


If you are interested in learning more about the PCSO Cadet Program please visit: https://www.polksheriff.org/programs-services/cadet-unit-1000