Washington
State Liquor Control Board Liquor Enforcement Officers, working with minor
operatives, conducted liquor compliance checks at 463 locations in April 2007.
The statewide compliance average for the month was 78.8 percent. The average
liquor compliance rate for the previous 12 months was 84.2 percent.
This
year, the Liquor Control Board has continued to increase the number of
compliance checks it carries out and has begun to focus more on identifying and
checking problem licensees, said Pat Parmer, Chief of Enforcement and
Education. Over time, more frequent and targeted compliance checks will result
in a higher statewide compliance rate.
Compliance
checks were conducted at 27 state liquor stores during April. 2 sales were
recorded. During a compliance check, a Liquor Enforcement Officer accompanies a
minor operative to a business. The officer observes the operative attempt to
purchase alcohol. If a sale occurs, the clerk and the business are both cited.
If
Investigative Aides are asked for their identification, they must present a
driver’s license or other picture I.D. bearing their true age. If asked whether
they are 21, they can answer evasively. A sale to a minor is a gross misdemeanor for the sale of alcohol to an underage
person punishable up to 1 year in jail and or $5,000.00 fine. A
misdemeanor is 90 days or $1000.00. Store owners whose employees are caught
selling to minors also receive an Administrative Violation Notice, which can
carry a fine and suspension
