Stores and Bars: Make Sure You're Checking IDs

The has been awarded a grant to conduct alcohol compliance checks on all licensed retailers. A compliance check is a tool to identify alcohol establishments that sell to underage youth.

In a compliance check, a law enforcement officer works with an underage youth who attempts to purchase alcohol from a bar, restaurant, liquor store, grocery store or other licensed outlet. If the clerk/server asks for identification and refuses the sale, the outlet passes the compliance check. If the clerk/server completes the sale, the outlet has illegally sold alcohol and fails the check.

In the next few weeks, officers will conduct the second round of compliance checks. 

Any seller caught selling to an underage buyer will be referred to the City Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. In addition, the owner of the alcohol license will face civil prosecution. Along with the issuance of an alcohol license comes the responsibility to ensure that all sales are made legally and responsibly.

Penalties for selling to a minor can include fines and license suspensions, and can potentially lead to license revocation. A server who sells to someone under 21 can be charged with a gross misdemeanor offense.

The Minnesota Institute of Public Health provided the alcohol compliance check funding through the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.