2000_1120_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

P Some cities establish a schedule of administrative fines or fees alone or in combination with a schedule of fixed periods for suspension of operation for those licensees who accept the administrative remedy. Those charged licensees who refuse the administrative penalty are charged and criminally prosecuted in court. This affords them their constitutionally guaranteed hearing opportunity. e � e e�� Enforcing the laws and ordinances related to selling alcohol is an effective way to reduce underage access to alcohol. A successful program to reduce underage access to alcohol includes elected officials, law enforcement officers, public health agencies, local merchants and interested community organizations working together to monitor adherence to these laws. There are two general approaches to conducting compliance checks. The first approach includes monitoring liquor store parking lots to prevent adults from supplying alcohol to underage persons, and the second calls for conducting an undercover investigation to determine if an outlet is selling alcohol to underage persons. The first approach may incorporate commu- nity involvement whereas undercover compliance checks need to be imple- mented within the city's administrative structure. By conducting these checks periodically, a city can track its community's progress in this area. When conducting compliance checks, it is suggested that license holders receive notification that these checks will be taking place. This will encour- age retailers to educate their employees about unlawful alcohol sales. Also, store owners whose stores successfully pass a compliance check should be sent a complimentary letter. Because compliance checks often involve underage persons, groups inter- ested in this approach to prevention should be aware of any related legal issues. Checking with local prosecutors to further discuss this might be helpful. Even though a merchant may claim entrapment if caught breaking the law, many police departments have used people under age 21 for such checks. For additional information on conducting compliance checks, see the article titled "The Ability of Young People to Purchase Alcohol without Age Identification in Northeastern Mimlesota, USA," Forster et aL (1994). Addiction, 89, 699-705. Nw�:#!s �$rcd is�.�ir,wes �1o6r�se�n� �a�irr,nca �, . Seven ciries. in,n�artl��s[ern Ramsey County are calYabia�ri�ig on the North Subtir6an� �rt��?�e Pro�eet: Whip Bear:i:ak�, �s+�ili�; 3�evi, Brighton,. Iviaple�%Qq�, ,l�torth St, Paul, Shor�view and �a�n' i��,ig�cs are sharing a p�tt-ti�te,caord�natur and conducting �siaxfaeq� .c�ti�pl#`ance checks �n underage �cee�s so cobaeca throughout their ct��n�nities. The mt�.lu-ctty approach ai�if shared project coordinator a� � strategies ct�at are �ikeiy #o it�pr�ve ietailers` ` com�li�ice wi€h age-of-safe laws. The joint effort emphasizes ``�-_= �t�s retailers as w�ll as to the g�i�ra1 public — the, importance of enforci�g laws related to undegage access. T`he proj ect coordinaror faci�itates the process and it�farsns retailers about upcoming comp[ianze chec�.�tocedu�es.'T"liis helps city council members fcet comForcable and con�'xiierie in their role of intervening and applying sanctions to those violating the ter�s of a' liee�se. $uitdi�g a�; ef� §uc�ss a#'the �urrent : ��,U� prc��e�t, ,�� b�ic� are : ` �ng ��atis tci e7cpa�� ;e pz�jecc:to tn�lzsa�'�i�tihdl ��ip�ari�ce''el�. '. � ., � . ��...L� � . . . .