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Alcohol Sales Compliance Check Yields 84% in Sagadahoc County

In an effort to reduce underage drinking in Sagadahoc County, Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office and Bath Police Department conduct quarterly compliance checks at stores that sell alcohol. On May 20, 2016, 19 stores were checked in Sagadahoc County, 16 of which refused to sell alcohol to the underage decoy, resulting in an 84% compliance rate.

Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry applauds the high compliance rate but hopes to one day see all stores in compliance. “Underage drinking prevention efforts are ongoing and it is important that every store that sells alcohol does so in compliance with Maine State Liquor Law. Our utmost priority must be to make sure that alcohol is not getting into the hands of young people,” Merry said.

 Data from the 2015 Maine Integrated Youth Healthy Survey shows that 68% of Sagadahoc County High School students report that it would be easy to get alcohol if they wanted to get some.

 “This number is too high. Decreasing access to alcohol is one of the most effective ways to prevent underage drinking, and we appreciate the continued support from our local law enforcement and retailer partners who are helping us keep teens safe,” said Melissa Fochesato, Director of Access Health, a Healthy Maine Partnership coordinated by Mid Coast Hospital. Access Health coordinates Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) – a local coalition working to prevent underage drinking in Sagadahoc County, Brunswick and Harpswell.

 Compliance checks are one of the many strategies being implemented locally to prevent youth access to alcohol. Additionally, CASA provides state-certified training programs and policy assistance for alcohol licensees, has created a parent campaign with tips for parents for preventing underage drinking, and has established the eTip text-a-tip program, allowing anonymous reporting of underage drinking or drug use.

 Merry and Fochesato agree, “We all have a role to play in preventing underage drinking and keeping kids safe.”

 Access Health’s substance abuse prevention efforts are funded by a grant from the Maine CDC’s Tobacco and Substance Abuse Prevention Program and SAMHSA’s Drug-Free Community Program.