Underage Drinking: Success Stories

The OJJDP Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative supports cooperation between community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned citizens to change local ordinances and enforcement practices.

West Virginia’s Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (WV ABCA) has begun working with local law enforcement to combat underage drinking. Through a combination of cooperation, technology, and media awareness, the WV ABCA is helping reduce sales and service to minors.

West Virginia has not been known for its enforcement of underage drinking laws until recently. Indeed, WV ABCA—a branch of the Department of Revenue—did little enforcement. However, with the inauguration of Governor Wise in 2001, enforcement became a priority for the ABCA.  To manage their enforcement efforts, the ABCA hired David Plantz as Director of Enforcement. Plantz had retired from the State Police after 27 years but gladly reentered public service.

Plantz attributes the increased emphasis on enforcement to several factors, including the emergence of underage drinking as a larger national issue. The emphasis is also driven by local changes; says Plantz, “We’re seeing binge drinking unlike we’ve ever seen.”

The change in ABCA also includes increased use of technology. All liquor licenses include a bar code and ABCA inspectors use handheld scanning devices that  read the code and can recall the licensee’s file instantly. The scanners can also be used to input data, thus reducing paperwork and turnaround time from inspections. The scanning devices have been deployed for licensee inspections, compliance checks, and sobriety patrols. The ABCA’s goal is to provide one to every officer working in liquor law enforcement.  

Also important to ABCA efforts is the effective use of media. Compliance check operations are followed by press releases naming outlets that passed the test, as well as outlets that failed. These press releases frequently become articles in local newspapers, giving citizens awareness of the enforcement efforts in their community. 

WV ABCA’s shift in priority signals a significant commitment to tackling the problem of underage drinking. With compliance checks being conducted in every county, the ABCA is already doing much to reduce underage drinking; but, says Plantz, “We’re just getting started.”

For more information, contact David Plantz, Director of Enforcement for WV ABCA, at 304-558-2481 or [email protected].