Underage Drinking: Success Stories

In 2001, the Concord City Council convened an ad hoc group to study underage drinking. This group was comprised of representatives from the courts, the faith community, schools, businesses, law enforcement officers, and parents. After a process that included public hearings, the ad hoc group wrote a report with two main recommendations: (1) Concord should create a position in city government to manage programs and activities for youth and (2) Concord should change its regulatory policies towards underage drinking.

One of the problems noted by the group was the lack of penalties for outlets that failed compliance checks. Clerks who sold to minors usually faced criminal charges, but management got by with only minimal penalties. One store—“the poster child for bad business,” says Concord’s Chief of Police Jerome Madden—failed five straight compliance checks. That the store failed so many times is particularly galling to Madden.

Chief Madden, along with Judge Michael Sullivan and Mayor Donovan, asked the State Liquor Commission for a meeting to air their concerns about the laxity of penalties for sales to minors. To their surprise, the Commission asked the three representatives to recommend new penalty guidelines.

The Chief, Judge, and Mayor all agreed that license suspension must happen on the first offense. The three also agreed that a fine should be part of the equation. Ultimately, they won the Commission’s approval for the following penalties:
-First offense: 3-day suspension and $250 fine.
-Second offense within 3 years: 5-day suspension and $500 fine.
-Third offense: 10-day suspension and $750 fine.
-Fourth offense: 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine.
-Fifth offense: revocation for the balance of the licensing year, or at least 6 months.

The Commission adopted these penalties for the city of Concord on trial basis for one year beginning in August 2002. Looking back on their first year, Judge Sullivan said “community support has been wonderful.” More importantly, the new policies have raised awareness of law enforcement efforts to reduce underage drinking. Now, says Chief Madden, “the community is well aware of how we look at these things.”

With the successful trial period over, the Commission will re-assess the structure of sanctions and judiciously recommend change where it deems appropriate. Underage drinking is of great concern in Concord and community leaders will continue to work on strategies to limit the access of alcohol to underage youth.