Texas police shut down little girls’ lemonade stand

Little girls selling lemonade can be a hazard to your health – that’s what police officers in Overton, Texas, say, at least.

Two Texas sisters found a loophole and offered lemonade for free on Saturday after police shut them down for lacking a permit. The two girls accepted donations instead of charging for the beverage, reported KLTV.

Last Monday, an Overton police officer approached eight-year-old Andria and seven-year-old Zoey Green’s stand and asked the girls’ mother, Sandi Evans, for a permit, reported the AP .

The girls were selling lemonade for 50 cents and “kettle korn” for a dollar in hopes of raising enough money for a Father’s Day present. The stand had been open for about an hour and the girls had made over $25 before the police officer shut the stand down.

“We were trying to raise some money to take our dad to Splash Kingdom,” Andria told KLTV.

Meanwhile, a family friend went to City Hall to get a permit. Although authorities waived the $150 fee, it was still required that the health department inspect the stand. Overton’s police chief said his officers must follow state health guidelines, according to AP.

Since lemonade technically must be refrigerated, the girls were violating the Texas House Bill 970, or the Texas Baker’s Bill, which prohibits the sale of food that requires time or temperature control in order to prevent spoilage.

“I think that’s ridiculous,” Evans told KLTV. “I think they’re seven and eight and they’re just trying to make money for their own cause.”