Store Sanctioned for Underage Liquor Sale (Holyoke, MA) – A package store received a one-week suspension of its liquor license where a part-time clerk didn’t check a 20-year-old woman’s identification. The 20 year old was arrested for being a minor transporting alcohol. Names were given of the woman and the clerk. In 2002, a city sting snagged 20 liquor license-holders for serving minors, but those charges were dropped due to improper notification.

 

Vigilance vs. Fake IDs, and the Kids are Crafty (Boston Globe) – Thousands of students illegally pose as 21 every year. Kids are making fake IDs in their dorm rooms or at home, and selling them for up to $80. Thousands of fake IDs are collected every year, even though using a fake ID is a felony in MA, carrying up to five years in jail. Kudos to Blanchard Liquor. His staff confiscates fakes and posts them on the front door of the shop. If kids want them back, they have the option of calling law enforcement themselves, or the store calls for them. He catches 5-10 per weekend using a $45 barcode scanner to determine license authenticity. “Cops-in-Shop” puts undercover officers in liquor stores to weed out fake IDs using police records.

 

Underage Drinking Targeted (Boston Globe) – The Waltham Restaurant Association is co-sponsoring an alcohol awareness training program for servers next month and distributing stickers and buttons that show an under-21 ID crossed out, with the slogan “Not in Waltham” above it. “Stings” hitting every package store, bar and restaurant within a few hours with multiple volunteers make compliance checks fair for all establishments, not allowing them to alert neighboring businesses. Those that fail the checks get up to a 3-day suspension for a first offense, 6 days for a 2^nd, 12 day for a 3^rd, and for a 4^th in 24 months, the liquor license could be revoked. Those are the sticks – the carrot is that they can get liquor liability insurance discounts if all their employees receive alcohol awareness training.

 

Program Discourages Underage Drinking (Cambridge Chronicle) – Participating retail establishments display signs saying “Under 21? Police officers may be posting as store employees”. Cops in Shops display materials are provided free-of-charge by the Century Council. In addition to the point-of-sale materials, The Century Council provides how-to manuals and organizational assistance More than 42 states have or are using the program.

 

Let the Wine Flow (Lowell Sun) – In May, the Supreme Court agreed to allow the sale of out-of-state wine over the Internet. Banning out-of-state Internet sales is discriminatory. Ordering alcohol over the Internet requires a credit card and proof of age on delivery. A bill by Sen. O’Leary of Barnstable asks any out-of-stater wanting toship wine here would have to register with the state and pay required excise taxes. Wine is labeled for sale to a resident 21 or over, with an adult’s signature required at delivery. Pricey wines sold over the internet are rarely the drink of choice for underage drinkers.

 

Barrington Officials Trying to Curb Teenage Drinking (Rhode Island) – The School Committee voted to allow the use of Breathalyzers and other alcohol-sensor devises at school-sanctioned events. Also, the police chief and solicitor are working on a consent form for parents to allow police to enter a home when there’s probably cause that underage drinking is taking place.

 

Health Tip: Is Your Teen Drinking – Tips that a teen’s drinking may be out of control:

·         Increased defiance

·         Failing grades

·         Sudden lapse in school attendance

·         Lying about where he’s been or who he’s been with

·         Giving up usual activities, such as sports and homework

·         Depressed attitude or mood swings.

·         Weight loss, change in sleep habits or energy level

·         Mental confusion

·         Increased physical complaints, such as upset stomach, and headaches

·         Getting into trouble with the law.

·         Traffic accidents.