Underage
Drinking: Success Stories
West
Virginia
– March
31, 2002
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of Problem
Strategies More
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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.
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In WV, Cooperation is Crucial
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West Virginia
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.?
One of West Virginia?s most important tools in combating underage drinking has been
compliance checks. The checks are conducted in conjunction with local law
enforcement and the state police. The scale of these checks is stunning;
in a typical day, officers might visit dozens of outlets in one or two
counties. WV ABCA is also conducting targeted sweeps that check on-premise
establishments for underage patrons. These
operations typically involve ABCA agents, State Police, and local
sheriffs? departments or other law enforcement.
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].
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