By Daily Press staff
A recent undercover sting showed that an overwhelming majority of Santa Monica liquor stores refused to sell alcohol to minors.
Over the last month, the Santa Monica Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted compliance checks among 59 businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in the city. Of the 59 businesses checked, 47 or 80 percent, refused to sell alcohol to underage buyers who were working with the SMPD.
The 12 businesses who did sell to the underage buyers were issued citations for failing to comply with the state’s alcohol laws and were referred to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Penalties vary but include fines and license suspension or revocation.
“Our police department followed standard procedures for conducting compliance checks,” said SMPD Chief James T. Butts, Jr. “As law enforcement officers, we conduct compliance checks because they have been shown to be an effective strategy in reducing underage drinking. By themselves, compliance checks will not eliminate youth access to alcohol. But when combined with a comprehensive community approach, they can help keep alcohol out of the hands of kids.”
For more information on Santa Monica Against Underage Drinking (SMAUD), or the SMPD’s compliance check program, go to www.smaud.org <http://- www.smaud.org/>.
The SMPD also has announced that on April 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., SMAUD will host the “Battle of the Teen Bands” on the Third Street Promenade to kick-off the first alcohol-free event. Five teen bands will compete for prizes donated by local businesses such as West L.A. Music, Activision and Hear Music. Event supporters include Jamba Juice, Rockstar Energy Drink, Star Bucks, El Cholo Mexican Restaurants, Gotham Hall, the Bayside District and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association.
The event is the result of joint efforts of the SMPD and SMAUD coalition to keep teens safe and sober. The program is funded by a grant from the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Community Trials Initiative.
The SMAUD plan seeks to reduce teen access to alcohol by enforcing underage drinking laws, promoting alcohol-free events and developing policies to keep teens safe and sober.
The program is in cooperation with the state of California, Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Office of Traffic Safety, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 13, 2005. Read the original PDF.