CHARLES CITY – If you are an underage buyer of booze in Charles City, it might be hard for you to find a business willing to sell to you in Charles City.
According to Charles City police, alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted between 6 pm and 10 pm on February 8, 2014 at 21 separate businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in Charles City. Working with a plainclothes officer and uniformed officers, an underage youth entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. All the businesses refused to sell to the underage buyers.
Lt. Worrall of the Charles City Police Department said after the sting that “it is great that all the businesses were in compliance. I know personally this is the first time in the last three years it was 100% compliance in town. We always want the business to be successful and not serve the minors. That is our goal. All but one establishment was very respectful with the operation. Most retailers realize the unannounced compliance checks are an important component of keeping the alcohol sales to minors down and keeping our kids safer.”
Illegal alcohol use by underage persons contributes to crime, car crashes, injuries, and deaths. Law enforcement officers find that alcohol also has a role in many of the more frequent minor crimes and nuisances that degrade the quality of life in our community. Many noise complaints, vandalism, littering, and similar nuisances involve young people who have been drinking.
Charles City police also said that public health officials report that alcohol use and abuse is also connected with teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health problems.
“We have learned that the community and our youth are safer and healthier when they don’t start using alcohol until after age 21,” police said in a statement. “Providing alcohol to an underage person is a crime punishable by fines and the possibilities of jail time. Typical offenders are fined several hundred dollars, owners of liquor license could be fined thousands if they were the server or provider.”
