Last year, the Patrol agreed to help the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control with its enforcement efforts. Since then, Troop D has conducted several sting operations, sending a 19-year-old volunteer to buy alcohol.

“If they ask for ID, she gives it to them; if they ask how old she is, she tells them. She doesn't lie," said Sgt. Dan Bracker, a spokesman for Troop D.

The results surprised even troopers. In Barry County, seven of 12 of stores checked sold to the underage customer; in Taney County, six of nine sold to her; in Christian County, it was four out of six.

“It's laziness. They don't care. They don't understand struggles police have to keep people alive,” said Bracker.

The results are also concerning for store owners like Bill Smillie, who says he does everything he can to teach his employees not to sell alcohol to minors.

“We ask them to sign agreement that they will not consciously sell to a person underage," said Smillie.

He follows that up with training every two years on how to spot a fake.

The Brown Derby chain has a similar policy, according to Human Resources Coordinator Kelli Fleck. In addition to frequent training, the company offers employees a cash incentive for confiscating fake IDs.

Both Smillie's IGA and Brown Derby have the same broad policy on who gets carded.

“Any customer who appears under 30 must be carded for alcohol and tobacco sales,” said Fleck.

Sometimes, however, even the simple task of asking for an ID isn't enough. While it's bad enough that a majority of the stores in the sting operations sold to minors, most of them can't use the excuse that the buyer looked over 21.

In Barry County, five of the seven employees who sold to the minor asked for her ID, looked at it, and still sold her the alcohol. That's despite her ID plainly saying "under 21" just like every ID belonging to a minor.

In Christian County, three out of the four clerks asked for her ID. In Taney County, all six of the employees who sold her alcohol did so after looking at her driver's license.

“You have to pay attention to every single one,” said Fleck.

“It has to become a priority that attendants don't sell to minors,” Bracker said.

And, if they do, Bracker promises the patrol will be there, not just to enforce the law but to educate employees and store owners about how to better protect minors.

“It’s not worth it. Tell somebody no. Step on some toes. Make someone angry and perhaps save a life," he said.

The patrol will continue assisting Liquor Control by conducting random sting operations across the Ozarks. Anyone caught selling to a minor, as an employee, faces fines, community service, probation and loss of his or her job. The store owner faces fines and potential store closure or loss of its liquor sales license.