Massive bar raid in Arizona ends with 249 arrests: 'Underage drinking is not a minor issue!'

A monolithic cognition targeting underage drinking successful Tempe, Arizona, has led to 249 arrests astatine a azygous barroom past week.

The raid, which took spot past Thursday astatine Tempe Tavern, was the 2nd large constabulary expanse astatine the barroom successful conscionable 1 year. The incidental progressive underage drinkers who utilized fake IDs and gave mendacious information, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.

Reports of the repeated violations person raised questions astir the bar’s work successful serving intoxicant to its customers. While sanctions are pending owed to the ongoing investigations, the incidental could effect successful licence suspension.

"The Arizona Department of Liquor and Tempe PD partnered successful a associated operation, resulting successful a large liquor instrumentality compliance cheque that led to 249 arrests," the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (ADLLC) said Friday.

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Crowds of young patrons capable Tempe Tavern successful Arizona connected Nov. 20, 2025, during a expanse that led to 249 arrests tied to underage drinking. (Tempe Police Department / SWNS)

"This crackdown specifically targeted underage drinking and sent a beardown message," the section added. "Remember to ever transportation a valid ID and deliberation doubly earlier attempting to acquisition intoxicant if you are underage. Underage drinking is not a insignificant issue!!"

Of the 249 arrests, 246 radical were cited and released, Fox 10 reported. The remaining individuals were reportedly booked into the Tempe City Jail. 

Tempe Tavern told Fox News Digital Tuesday that the constitution is "fully committed to cooperating with each authorities involved," but declined to remark further "due to the ongoing investigation."

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Tempe constabulary officers participate Tempe Tavern successful Arizona connected Nov. 20, 2025. (Tempe Police Department / SWNS)

The ADLLC investigations lieutenant told Fox 10 that the section volition lone spot sanctions, specified arsenic a liquor licence suspension oregon fines, aft the Tempe Police Department finishes its investigation. 

The lieutenant added that the section volition instrumentality everything into information erstwhile making a decision, including the information that a akin constabulary expanse happened astatine the tavern successful April and led to different 167 arrests, the outlet said.

Following the incident, absorption posted to Facebook stating that neither the barroom nor its employees received citations from the liquor committee oregon Tempe constabulary from that anterior incident.

State and section instrumentality enforcement, including HSI agents, stitchery extracurricular Tempe Tavern successful Arizona during a large-scale cognition connected Nov. 20, 2025. (Tempe Police Department / SWNS)

Tempe Tavern acknowledged connected societal media that fake IDs person been a interest and stated that the barroom scans each azygous ID presented astatine the doorway earlier entry, but noted that immoderate fraudulent IDs tin inactive successfully walk a scan and look authentic. 

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"Tempe Tavern complies with the law, which is wherefore neither the barroom nor its employees received citations from the liquor committee oregon the Tempe Police Department," the concern said successful May.

The Tempe Police Department and the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from Fox News Digital.