Date: Fri 06-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-underage-drinking

Full Text:

Police Work With Retail Outlets To Stop Alcohol Sales To Youth

(with photo)

Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, said police are working with the owners of

retail alcohol outlets to ensure that alcohol isn't sold to underage people.

The chief has met with the owners of retail alcohol outlets to discuss the

police department's program of enforcing laws which specify that people under

21 are not allowed to buy alcohol.

As part of that effort, posters have been printed for display at alcohol

outlets explaining that it's illegal for people under 21 to buy beer, wine or

spirits, the chief said. The posters state the store cooperates with the

police.

Initially, the "zero tolerance" alcohol enforcement program will be in effect

at package stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, he said. Later, it

will expand to restaurants and bars, he said.

The owners of liquor outlets are aware of state laws and penalties concerning

the sale of alcohol to underage people, the police chief said.

Underage buyers of alcohol also are subject to criminal penalties.

The sellers of liquor to underage people also face potential civil liabilities

in the event that accidents occur as a result of alcohol sales to people

legally too young to buy, according to the chief.

The police chief says he wants the owners of retail alcohol outlets to tell

him what the police can do to get better local compliance with the alcohol

sales laws.

Also, the police want to know how they can better protect the people who work

in stores that sell alcohol, he said.

Store owners should notify police of people seeking to illegally buy alcohol

and people who present fraudulent identification cards in an attempt to do so,

the chief said.

"Education and cooperation is the best way to achieve compliance in the

community," he said.