Underage
Drinking: Success Stories
New Hampshire – February 2004
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of Problem
Strategies More
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With support from the OJJDP
Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative, community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned citizens are working collaboratively to
change local ordinances and enforcement practices.
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Regular Enforcement and Tougher Penalties
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Several years ago, residents in the City of Concord, New Hampshire expressed
concern that underage drinking was a problem that needed attention. While
the causes of the problem were somewhat unclear, community desire for
action was not
In 2001, the Concord
City Council convened an ad hoc committee to study the problem of underage
drinking. This group consisted of representatives from criminal justice
system, the faith community, schools, businesses, and parents. After a
process that included public hearings, the ad hoc committee produced a
report with two main recommendations: (1) Create a position within city
government to manage programs and activities for youth, and (2) Change
regulatory policies regarding underage drinking.
One of the policy-related
deficiencies noted by the group was the lack of appropriate penalties
imposed on outlets that failed compliance checks. Clerks who sold to minors
usually faced criminal charges, but license holders received only minimal
penalties. One storethe poster child for bad business,
says Concords Chief of Police Jerome Maddenfailed five straight
compliance checks and kept its license.
Armed with the committees
report, Concord Mayor Michael Donovan, Judge Michael Sullivan, and Chief
Madden asked the State Liquor Commission for a meeting to discuss the
lack of appropriate penalties for violations of the minimum purchase age
law. The Commission, in turn, asked them to recommend new penalty guidelines.
The city leaders agreed
that a fine and a license suspension should be imposed for a first offense.
Ultimately,
they won the Commissions approval for the following penalties:
- First offense:
3-day suspension and $250 fine.
- Second offense
within 3 years: 5-day suspension and $500 fine.
- Third offense:
10-day suspension and $750 fine.
- Fourth offense:
30-day suspension and $1,000 fine.
- Fifth offense:
revocation for the balance of the license year, or at least 6 months.
The Commission adopted
the penalties on a trial basis in August 2002, and the Concord Police
Department believes the combination of regular law enforcement activity
and stiffer penalties is directly responsible for the increase in retail
compliance. Concord compliance rates in December 2003 for on-premise establishments
were 100 percent and 96 percent for off-premise establishments. For the
year 2003, compliance rates for on-premise and off-premise establishments
averaged 96 percent and 87 percent, respectively.
Looking back on the
year, Judge Sullivan notes that community support has been wonderful.
The stiffer penalties generated greater awareness about one of the primary
causes underage drinking: easy access through retail sources. Even more
importantly, it led to dramatic changes in retailer behavior.
For more information, contact contact Chief Aidan Moore of the
New Hampshire Liquor Commission at 603-271-3930 or [email protected]
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