The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office launched its first compliance check in Lincoln County on Saturday, Dec. 20 and found 10 area businesses that sold alcohol to minors. The sheriff’s office is using the violations discovered as a teachable moment.
They are asking the area businesses, which have not been publicly identified, to engage in substance abuse training designed for clerks, managers, and owners of stores selling alcohol. The training is sponsored by Healthy Lincoln County. It will cover topics such as identifying minors, carding practices, and the Liquor Liability Act.
“We don’t anticipate charges if the stores make changes in training and policies,” Lt. Rand Maker told The Lincoln County News. “In almost all of the incidents, there was no intentional act (to break the law). It was a matter of complacency and not following policies.”
The sheriff’s office signed a memorandum with the state of Maine to conduct investigations of administrative violations related to selling alcohol approximately one year ago. Saturday’s compliance check was the first one conducted by the sheriff’s office.
Four sheriff’s deputies and one officer from the Damariscotta Police Department participated in the operation. The sheriff’s office coordinated with other area police departments to identify stores that were an area of concern.
Adults ages 18-20 were assigned to enter stores to try to purchase alcohol. They were instructed to answer all questions related to their age honestly.
Maine law requires all stores selling alcohol to card individuals who are 27 years old or younger.
Thirty-six stores were included in the operation. Ten of those stores sold alcohol to the minors. The sheriff’s office hopes that through education and training, changes will be made to prevent the stores from repeated violations.
According to Maine’s Liquor Liability Act, furnishing liquor to a minor is a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in jail, a mandatory $500 minimum fine for a first offense, a $1,000 minimum fine for a second offense, and a $1,500 minimum fine for a third offense.
The Maine agency responsible for liquor licenses may refer violations by licensees to the District Court for prosecution.
