What is the Compliance Check/Alcohol Purchase Survey Database?
The Compliance Check/Alcohol Purchase Survey Database is a tool that law enforcement agencies and community groups can use to track illegal sales to minors by retailers. This database is designed so that individuals from local enforcement agencies and community groups may enter their data from either compliance checks or alcohol purchase surveys directly into the system (For an explanation on the difference between a compliance check and an alcohol purchase database, click here). It is intended that the local official or individual most familiar with the local data will be able to enter the data into the system
These operations involve sending minors or young-looking adults into stores to purchase alcohol. In this way, law enforcement agencies and community members can find out who is selling alcoholic beverages to our children The OJJDP Guide to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys includes in Appendix 3 (page 62) a Data Collection Form for completion following alcohol purchase attempts by a minor or young-looking adult during alcohol sales enforcement actions or compliance surveys. This form collects information for a current, existing database and software which has been designed to permit immediate opportunities for data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. The database is especially helpful for analysis of survey and enforcement findings, and for comparison of findings over time.
Why do Compliance Checks and/or Alcohol Purchase Surveys?
Illegal sales to minors can be prevented, but most communities need valid information in order to do the most effective job of prevention. Alcohol purchase surveys can provide this information. They also:
- Tell us who is selling to minors and how often,
- Raise community awareness and build support for reducing sales to minors,
- Inform merchants that they are being monitored by the community,
- Aid law enforcement, and
- Help monitor the impact of prevention strategies.
How do you use the Database?
First, you will need to fill out an information sheet and request an ID and a password (see below for information on how to obtain an ID and password). Once you request to use the database, your ID and password will be sent to you via email. You then simply fill out the information requested in the database. Prior to your next compliance check or alcohol purchase survey, you should familiarize yourself with the questions that are asked in the database and you may want to print a copy of the database and take that with you on your next operation.
After the compliance check or purchase survey, please fill out the information requested in the database and submit. The information for that operation is now stored in the database and you have access to the program for data entry, analysis, and reports. You will only have access to the information that you enter.