With support from the OJJDP Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative, community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned citizens are working collaboratively to change local ordinances and enforcement practices.
|
Where There’s A Will:
Mississippi AG Office Blankets State with Compliance Checks |
In 1998, the Mississippi State Legislature took away the Alcohol Beverage Control’s power to conduct compliance checks at locations that sold beer such as convenience stores. The development came as a blow to an agency that was already struggling to conduct compliance checks with a staff of only part-time inspectors. Similarly, prevention advocates were disturbed by the change, recognizing that compliance checks conducted at state liquor stores that only sell wine and distilled spirits would probably not produce a realistic picture of the ease with which youth are able to purchase alcoholic beverages in Mississippi.
Fortunately, the State’s Office of the Attorney General considered retail sales of alcohol purchases to minors a serious problem and stepped in to address the issue. Between May 1, 2000 and April 30, 2001 , the Attorney General’s Office working in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies around the state completed 7228 compliance checks.
Compliance checks are conducted throughout the year and as of February, just under 5400 beer compliance checks were conducted in grocery, convenience, and drug stores statewide. Since last spring, the average noncompliance rate for the state has decreased from 26 percent in May to 17 percent in January. The average noncompliance rate for the nine-month period was 19 percent.
In addition, the agency recently began conducting alcohol compliance checks in bars located in college areas. The second round of compliance checks conducted in January 2001 produced a 32 percent buy-rate. While this rate is high, it did indicate a decrease. The buy-rate in September 2000 was 57 percent. Compliance checks were conducted in Cleveland, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Jefferson/Claiborne, Oxford and Starkville Counties. Rates for these counties ranged from 83 percent (Jefferson/Claiborne) to 0 percent (Hattiesburg).
Mississippi imposes graduated penalties on permit holders whose establishments are found selling alcohol to minors. Fines range from up to $500 for a first offense to up to $5000 for a third offense. License suspension periods range from three months for a first offense to one year for a third offense.
For more information contact: Bill Perrett, EUDL State Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, (601) 987-4990.