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An Environment of
Easy Access
By Allison Hopkins
It is incredible how easy it is for young people in our
community to obtain alcohol, especially with the numerous laws that are present
in our state regarding access of alcohol to minors. The sheer ease of buying or getting an adult
to buy alcohol is disturbing. As a youth
resident in
A few weekends ago, in a neighboring county, I participated in compliance checks; enforcement operations that test the ability of retailers to follow the laws on selling alcohol. During these operations I entered the store with my own driver’s license which showed I was several years under twenty-one. I chose a six-pack of alcohol and made my way to the register where the clerk was given every opportunity to make the lawful decision to decline the sale. Thankfully, a majority of the clerks did just that. However, two out of nine establishments sold alcohol to me without asking for identification. If I was able to purchase alcohol from these stores, others seeking alcohol in the area must be aware of their lack of compliance. I would think that businesses that sell alcohol and are trained to properly identify all purchasers would be the last place that youth could obtain alcohol without proper identification. It was surprising to see the readiness of employees and owners to make the profit.
In a couple of weeks I will be involved in that same county in a Shoulder Tap operation where an underage person asks community members to purchase alcohol. The last time this operation occurred in our county, 2 out of 7 people purchased for the minor.
I hope this is an example to the community that makes us all think of our role in preventing underage drinking. The responsibility of parents to know their teenager’s whereabouts and understand the community’s compliance is crucial in protecting youth. As a business owner or employee, one must comply with all liquor laws and refuse to sell alcohol to anyone underage or accept excuses over a faulty or unavailable I.D. Law enforcement/liquor control agents in our community must work hard to enforce the laws and prosecutors need to ensure that proper penalties are carried out.
As a youth of my community, I ask that each one of you realize the part you play in preventing underage drinking. Even if families keep their teenager away from alcohol in the home, the community environment offers us many opportunities to obtain the drinks and effects that are desired by many.
Allison Hopkins is a junior at EHS and a member of the Kittitas County Community Network/Drug Free Communities Coalition and Traffic Safety Team.
The Kittitas County Community Network/Drug Free Communities Coalition and the Community Network agency, through a federal Drug Free Communities grant, are implementing the “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking” as a community service for parents. For more information on the campaign, go to www.kccn-dfc.com.
