Recent random alcohol compliance checks result in 100% compliance within Allamakee County

The Allamakee County Substance Abuse Prevention Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office recently collaborated to conduct random alcohol compliance checks of local stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and other businesses. The purpose of this strategy was to see if these establishments would sell alcohol to underage buyers.
Of the 15 locations checked randomly, each and every one of them demonstrated compliance with the law.
Liquor license and beer and wine permit holders carry the primary legal responsibility for ensuring that their employees comply with laws governing alcohol sales. Selling, giving, or otherwise supplying an alcoholic beverage to someone under the legal drinking age of 21 is criminally punishable as a simple misdemeanor with a scheduled fine of $1,500 when the violation is committed by a license or permit holder and $500 when the violation is committed by the holder’s employee or agent. It’s also against the law for a minor to attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage or have an alcoholic beverage in their control or possession.
“Alcohol in the hands of our youth has an overwhelming effect on our families and our communities,” states Allamakee County SPF-SIG Coordinator Maxine Grotegut. “Alcohol use by teens has been shown to significantly increase the likelihood of traffic crashes, crime rates, teenage pregnancies, suicides, drowning, sexually transmitted diseases, and poor performance in school. That is why Allamakee County Substance Abuse Prevention SPF-SIG, in collaboration with local law enforcement, will be increasing the use of prevention strategies such as compliance checks in an effort to decrease the availability of alcohol to our youth.”
All establishments that serve alcohol are encouraged to attend Responsible Beverage Service Training. These classes educate servers on asking for and reading IDs as well as educating them on Iowa liquor laws and liability issues. Anyone interested in Responsible Beverage Service Training may contact the Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention Office at 563-568-2204.
Grotegut says she believes that through continued education, community collaboration and policy change, the community can and will see a reduction in youth access to alcohol in the community and the related negative consequences.
Allamakee County Substance Abuse Prevention SPF-SIG is a project funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.