Businesses sell alcohol
to minors less often

A Health Department survey shows
the rate fell by half since 2000

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Efforts to stop Oahu retail outlets from selling alcohol to minors appear to be working.

Results of the state Department of Health's latest Underage Alcohol Sales Survey show businesses violating the law fell by about half.

During the March-April survey, 19.2 percent of outlets sold to underage buyers compared with 39.3 percent last year, the Health Department reported. The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu Liquor Commission are working with the Health Department's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division in the enforcement project.

Unannounced inspections were made of 330 randomly selected Oahu businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Youths under age 21 -- the legal drinking age -- attempted to buy liquor as "decoys."

Nearly 81 percent, or 249 businesses, refused to sell to the young buyers and were commended by the enforcing agencies.

Police officers issued citations to clerks that sold alcohol to underage buyers, and liquor inspectors cited the store owners.

Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor commit a misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,000 and up to one year in jail. The store owner or licensee faces a fine of up to $2,000 and revocation or suspension of the liquor license. County penalties may vary.

Among the 330 outlets surveyed this year, 15 were closed, six were out of business and one did not sell alcohol. That left 308 where alcohol purchase attempts were made.

The outlets visited included 136 convenience stores (44.2 percent), 72 grocery stores (23.4 percent), 78 liquor stores (25.3 percent) and 22 drug-discount stores (7.1 percent).

Among significant factors associated with sales:

>> Alcohol was sold to 23.2 percent of decoys who were not asked their age vs. 3.3 percent of those who were asked their age.

>> Sales occurred in 12.3 percent of cases when a clerk asked for ID, vs. 66.7 percent if no ID was requested.

>> Outlets with warning signs posted (15 percent) were less likely to sell to minors than those that did not have warning signs (28.4 percent).

>> Clerks were more likely to sell to a 19-year-old (27 percent) than an 18-year-old (10.3 percent.)

>> A male decoy was more successful at purchasing alcohol (40 percent) than three female decoys (11.8 percent).

>> Outlets displaying promotional materials (17.1 percent) were less likely to sell to minors than those that did not (37 percent).

>> The most likely sales outlets for teenagers were liquor stores (24.4 percent) and drug stores (27.3 percent).