Fewer alcohol violations with new excise enforcement

Indiana State Excise Police released new data on statewide alcohol law compliance Thursday. The report showed details for this year from the Survey for Alcohol Compliance.

It indicated establishments willing to sell alcohol to minors without checking their identification have declined from 33.1 percent in 2007 — when the survey started — to 5.5 percent so far this year.

State excise police employ underage youth participants who attempt to purchase alcohol under the supervision of a plainclothes excise officer.

Since the excise police launched its initiative in April 2007, the number of Indiana businesses willing to sell alcoholic beverages to minors has fallen every year.

Among the business establishments that were most likely to sell alcohol to minors were economic redevelopment districts (40 percent noncompliance), civic centers (36.4 percent), farm wineries (28.6 percent), hotels (20.0 percent), horse track, satellite facilities and gaming sites (15.4 percent) and historical river vessels (11.9 percent).

Establishments that were the least likely to sell alcohol to minors were drug stores (1 percent noncompliance), private clubs (2.0 percent), grocery stores (2.1 percent) and package stores (5.1 percent). Restaurants and bars were willing to sell alcoholic beverages to minors in 8.2 percent of inspections.

“Our agency’s primary goal is to reduce underage access to alcohol,” Superintendent Matt Strittmatter said.  “The Survey for Alcohol Compliance has resulted in a substantial reduction in the numbers of businesses willing to sell alcohol to minors.”

“Coupled with the educational programs excise officers provide to the alcoholic beverage industry, the SAC program has resulted in fewer minors being able to purchase alcoholic beverages,” he said.

— Zach Ammerman