Twice a year Plymouth businesses that sell alcohol and tobacco face a serious test that appears to be a routine sale. The Police Department sends in an underage person to attempt to make a purchase. The test is part of the department’s regular compliance checks – and an important part of its effort to prevent underage access to alcohol and tobacco.
Results from the compliance checks show that businesses are generally doing a good job of checking the identification of underage buyers. Of the 40 licensed tobacco sellers in Plymouth, 94 percent did not sell the product to the underage customer. Of the 62 businesses that hold liquor licenses, 96 percent did not sell to the buyer. Watch the video on YouTube.
“Our business community is taking its responsibility for preventing youth access to alcohol and tobacco seriously. It’s important for residents to know that the corner convenience store or the restaurant down the street is doing a great job,” said Community Relations Officer Long, who coordinates the checks.
Police Chief Mike Goldstein emphasizes that the goal of the compliance checks is to prevent alcohol and tobacco from getting in the hands of young people – not to catch businesses doing something wrong. “We want to catch them doing something right... Our preference is to education and work in concert with our businesses to prevent youth access – not to simply enforce the law,” he said.
Long said that when a cashier or server fails the compliance check, it’s usually for one of four reasons. “They say they didn’t have the time. They forgot. They assumed the person looked old enough. Or they say they didn’t do the math correctly after looking at the drivers license.” The good news is that all of those reasons are things that the business owner can address, he added.
How the Checks Work
The Police Department hires an underage person to play the role of buyer. Typically the buyer is a 16- or 17-year-old for tobacco buys and a 19- or 20-year-old for alcohol purchases. A plain clothes police officer must also be on hand to watch the interaction.
If the employee cards the buyer, the police officer lets the employee know on the spot that he or she passed a compliance check. If the employee fails to ask for identification and makes the sale, the officer lets the employee and the manager know that immediately as well.
The penalties for violations are progressive and typically result in a fine and and/or suspension of the license. A fourth violation results in license revocation.
Long noted that the Plymouth Police Department does not usually encounter businesses that are repeat offenders. “It’s most often a single lapse that the business corrects,” he said.
He adds that many businesses opt to card customers who are well over the legal age. “They are just being vigilant. While it can be inconvenient, I hope customers appreciate the reason for checking identification – and maybe even take it as a compliment,” he said.
