Oregon County Cracks Down on Rogue Lemonade Stands

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Might as well declare war on Americana itself.

Seven-year-old Julie Murphy was hawking lemonade at an art fair near Portland at 50 cents a cup, homemade sign in hand. That is, until the Multnomah County health department rolled up and shut the juvenile delinquent down after the child was unable to produce the $120 temporary restaurant permit required by the city.

“I understand the reason behind what they’re doing and it’s a neighborhood event, and they’re trying to generate revenue,” Jon Kawaguchi, environmental health supervisor for the Multnomah County Health Department, told The Oregonian. “But we still need to put the public’s health first.”

Little Julie got the idea for the lemonade stand after watching a cartoon pig named Olivia operate one on TV. Clearly America’s cartoons need to teach a new lesson: There’s no beating the system, kid.