Compliance
Check Operation
Routine, comprehensive
compliance checks are the key strategy for deterring commercial alcohol
sales to minors. They involve the use of underage buyers by law enforcement
agencies as deputies to test retailers� compliance with laws regarding
the sale of alcohol to minors. Retailers who do sell to the underage buyer
are then cited or arrested depending on the laws of that jurisdiction.
For a more detailed explanation of compliance checks, click
here to access our publication on the subject.
Alcohol Purchase
Survey
In order to carry out a purchase
survey, a representative sample of alcohol outlets is selected. At each
outlet in the sample, a buyer who is over 21 but who appears to be underage
attempts to purchase alcohol without presenting age identification (ID).
If the outlet sells alcohol to the buyer, it is considered noncompliant.
If the outlet refuses to sell to the buyer, it is considered in compliance.
There is no enforcement action taken as there would be in a compliance
check.
Alcohol purchase surveys
indicate who is selling alcohol to minors and how often. This lets a community
know how large the problem of underage sales is and among which outlets.
This information can be very useful in allocating scarce enforcement and
prevention resources. The results of surveys can be used to help raise
community awareness and build support for efforts to reduce sales to minors.
For a more detailed explanation of alcohol purchase surveys and how to
conduct them, click
here to access our publication on the subject.
