12 of 13 in Deschutes pass OLCC minor ‘sting’
Twelve of 13 businesses visited in Bend, Sunriver and La Pine passed a check for alcohol sales to minors by refusing to sell alcohol to a minor volunteer, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission reported Thursday.
The sales checks were performed Feb. 12 and resulted in a compliance rate of 92 percent, which is above the 2013 statewide average of 84 percent.
“It is essential to make ID training for employees as easy as possible,” says Katie Siefkes, Bend regional manager. “We find that licensees who educate their employees and develop partnerships with OLCC and police stay in business longer and have stronger ties in the community.”
“We believe strongly in the decoy operations that OLCC does in the Sunriver area as well as Central Oregon,” says Sunriver Police Chief Marc Mills.
“Because we are a resort destination, we see a lot of minors in possession, especially January through March. Any efforts to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors is greatly appreciated by the Sunriver Police Department.”
The commission performs the minor sales checks in an effort to reduce drinking by minors, which is a serious problem throughout the state. The OLCC tests licensed liquor businesses throughout the year. Licensees or their employees could be held liable for alcohol-related damages and injuries if they serve or sell alcohol to a minor.
The OLCC offers a free training course on how to check ID’s. Participants learn how to identify false identification and the laws regarding minors and alcohol. Additional training opportunities are available including classes for store clerks and service permit holders. Interested persons can call the local OLCC office to schedule a training session. (Samples of OR Driver Licenses for minor and adult http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonliquorcontrolcommission/sets/72157624623539267/)
During the sales checks, a minor volunteer attempts to purchase alcohol from a licensed business to see if staff are checking ID’s correctly and refusing to sell alcohol to anyone under 21.
Commission inspectors or other law enforcement officers supervise the minor volunteers. The volunteers carry their own legal ID that identifies them as under 21 and do not disguise their age or lie to encourage the sale of alcohol. The Oregon Driver license for a minor carries a red border around the picture with the words “Minor Until” followed by the date of his/her 21 st birthday.
Under Oregon law, businesses in cities with a population of 20,000 or more have an equal chance of being randomly selected for a minor decoy compliance check. A business can also be selected for a compliance check if there is a documented complaint of sales to minors. Businesses in cities with a population under 20,000 and unincorporated areas in counties are not subject to these selection requirements.
Minor Decoy Operation
February 12, 2014
Bend, Sunriver, La Pine,
13 premises visited: 12 No Sales, 1 Sales – Compliance rate of 92%
NO SALES
CE LOVEJOY’S BROOKSWOOD MARKET
19530 AMBER MEADOW DR. #140
BEND
BIG BELLY GRILL HOUSE
56815 VENTURE LN #501 & 521
SUNRIVER
BI-MART #671
51670 HUNTINGTON
LA PINE
HUNAN CHINESE RESTAURANT
51546 HWY 97
LA PINE
LA PINE INN
51490 HWY 97
LA PINE
LUCKY FORTUNE
16492 WILLIAM FOSS RD
LA PINE
NO SALES
MARCELLO’S
57031 PONDEROSA RD M#2
SUNRIVER
CROSSROAD STATION
56896 VENTURE LN
SUNRIVER
QUICK STOP MARKET
51497 HWY 97
LA PINE
RAY’S FOOD PLACE #76
51537 HWY 97
LA PINE
RAY’S SHOP SMART #54
51370 HWY 97
LA PINE
SUMMIT XPRESS
17355 SPRING RIVER RD
SUNRIVER
SALES
BASE CAMP GRILL
17355 SPRING RIVER RD #200
SUNRIVER
