Under- age agents boost ID checks at liquor outlets
Compliance up to 96 per cent for government stores, 84 per cent for private shops, but owners argue program is overly punitive
Four times as many private B. C. liquor stores sold booze to minors as government stores, a B. C. liquor control branch sting operation has found.
When liquor branch agents under 19 years old tried to buy liquor at 98 government liquor stores, they were sold liquor four per cent of the time, says a 2011- 12 report on the minors-as-agents program.
Attempts by the minor agents to buy liquor at 344 privately run liquor stores — which include cold beer and wine outlets — were successful 16 per cent of the time.
The first- of- its- kind program in Canada was launched to enhance enforcement after the province became concerned at the low rate liquor stores were asking for identification from young- looking purchasers.
During three previous, separate sweeps of the province, the rate at which youthful- looking agents were being asked for identification at government and private liquor stores was about 29 per cent, said Karen Ayers, the liquor licensing branch’s general manager.
Because the 2003- 09 checks failed to increase compliance, the B. C. government introduced legislation in 2010 that
The minors as agents program is a very noble concept, but it is significantly flawed.
RON ORR ALLIANCE OF BEVERAGE LICENSEES PRESIDENT
allowed the liquor control branch to employ minors to try to buy liquor at government and private stores. Because the earlier programs used 19- yearolds, not asking for identification did not result in a penalty to the store.
The first year of under- age inspections is considered a success because identification checks of youthful- looking agents has increased significantly to 96 per cent in government stores and 84 per cent in private stores.
That’s a result of the penalties and communication, said Ayers.
A first offence under the new program brings a fine of $ 7,500, and a second offence in a 12- month period is a 20- to 30- day licence suspension.
“Ultimately ( owners) who are being licensed to sell liquor have a serious responsibility to take the appropriate steps and make sure they are not giving access to minors,” said Ayers.
Private liquor store owners have big concerns with the undercover program.
Alliance of Beverage Licensees president Ron Orr said private liquor store operators are not opposed to the concept of trying to prevent minors from buying alcohol, but believe the penalties are overly punitive.
Orr said the private liquor store operators would like to see more focus put on the minors by putting steep fines on them for trying to purchase alcohol.
A few years ago, the penalty for a minor purchasing alcohol increased to $ 230 from $ 110. The fine must be paid in order for a person to renew their driver’s licence or purchase car insurance, noted Ayers.
A clerk or server can be penalized $ 575 for serving alcohol to minors.
But Orr also questioned whether the sting operations were effectively preventing minors from buying liquor because of the increasing proliferation of false identification.
“The minors as agents program is a very noble concept, but it is significantly flawed because the bigger issue is that most ( young people) are astute enough to go out and access fake IDs,” argued Orr.
Government liquor stores should also face closure on a first offence because a fine is not a penalty to a governmentfunded operation, added Orr.
He said owners also feel inspectors are using any means to trip up staff, coming in during busy periods or at the end of a shift. Orr likened it to entrapment. The minor agents used in the new program are accompanied by two liquor inspectors who ensure the store setting is safe for the under- age agent.
The program has also been expanded to restaurants where compliance was much lower — 20 of 29 restaurants served alcohol to minors.