Four city establishments failed an Evanston Police Department liquor law compliance check on Thursday evening, Deputy Chief Joseph Bellino of EPD said.

Jewel-Osco, 1128 Chicago Ave., Wild Oats Marketplace, 1111 Chicago Ave., Pete Miller’s Steakhouse, 1557 Sherman Ave. and The Keg of Evanston, 810 Grove St., all failed the compliance check.

EPD checked 19 Evanston locations licensed to serve alcohol, Bellino said. The department asked minors to visit the establishments and to present their legitimate identification showing the patron is underage, and attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages.

EPD cited the establishments with a city-ordinance violation for selling alcohol to a minor and are scheduled to appear at the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., on Nov. 1.

Compliance checks are performed several times each year, Bellino said. All liquor-selling establishments are checked at least once each year.

“It’s unfortunate for the four places that sold alcohol to minors, but I’d like to commend the other 15 who refused alcohol to minors,” Bellino said.

EPD has a 100 percent compliance goal, Bellino said.

“Whether it’s the guy checking IDs at the door, the waitstaff or the bartender, sooner or later they will all be held accountable,” Bellino said.

Liquor-law compliance at Jewel-Osco is a very serious matter, said Juanita Page, the company’s manager of public affairs.

“We have procedures in place at each of our stores,” Page said. “These are reviewed by every person who handles alcohol and (they) are asked to comply.”

A person who answered the phone at Wild Oats declined to comment. The Keg and Pete Miller’s did not return messages from The DAILY.

– Laura Olson