Alcohol sting: Sales to minors still too frequent
By Norman Miller/ Daily News Staff
(Wednesday, May 17, 2006)

FRAMINGHAM -- Fourteen percent of businesses tested in seven towns this month sold alcohol to underage girls, but one of those girls said yesterday that is not low enough.

"It should be a priority to respect and enforce a law that is proven to save lives," said Catherine, 17, at a press conference at the Framingham Police Department.

"An estimated 21,000 lives have been saved by the 21 minimum drinking age law since 1975. Imagine how many more lives could be saved and damage prevented if we actively enforced the 21 minimum drinking age law. It only takes a few seconds to check an ID, and those few seconds could be the difference between a few dollars profit and a few days out of businesses."

The press conference yesterday was for Mothers Against Drunk Driving to release the results of its MetroWest Night of Compliance. Underage students went to 138 bars, restaurants and stores that sold liquor throughout several weekends and attempted to purchase alcohol without an ID.

The seven participating communities were Framingham, Millis, Ashland, Holliston, Natick, Northborough and Wayland. Of the 138 businesses, 19 sold alcohol to the students, said Barbara Harrington, executive director of MADD Massachusetts.

"There are no single solutions to solve underage drinking," said Harrington. "On behalf of MADD, I want to thank the adults who stepped up. Reducing underage drinking is everyone’s responsibility." Holliston had the best compliance rate -- none of the seven businesses sold to minors. Framingham had the worst compliance rate -- at 79 percent. Nine out of 43 businesses sold alcohol to minors.

Northborough had a 93 percent compliance rate, with one out of 14 selling to minors, while Natick had two out of 24 selling to minors and Wayland had one out of 12, both for 92 percent compliance rates. Millis had an 85 percent compliance rate with two out of 13 businesses selling to minors, while Ashland had four out of 25 selling to minors for an 84 percent compliance rate.  "We take it very seriously," said Framingham Police Lt. Paul Shastany. "It was very disappointing. A 21 percent failure rate is not something to strive for. We believe, at some point, we will drive these numbers down."

Natick Police Sgt. Brian Lauzon said he could not say which businesses failed because they have not been notified. Last year, in similar checks, the town had one violator.

"I have mixed emotions," said Lauzon. "We should have done better." Holliston Acting Chief Keith Edison said he was pleased with the town’s businesses that were checked.

"We emphasize this," said Edison. "We try to keep enforcement going." In Wayland, the only business to sell to minors was the Whole Foods Market grocery store. The most recent check was the second of the year -- earlier, two businesses had failed. Millis Police Chief Peter McGowan said he was not completely satisfied with his town’s 85 percent compliance rate. Victory Lane and Lewis’ Liquors, both on Exchange Street, sold the alcohol to the 17- and 18-year-old girls.

"You hope for 100 percent compliance," said McGowan. "We’re a little disappointed. We sent out letters saying we were going to be doing this."  The four businesses that failed in Ashland were the Fusion Restaurant, Sabrina Wong’s II and Siam To You, all on Pond Street, as well as the Ashland Fish and Game Club on Ponderosa Road, Lt. Scott Rohmer said.

He said teens are always going to try to buy alcohol, so diligent inspection of IDs by liquor establishments is necessary.  "It’s up to them to make sure things like that don’t happen," Rohmer said. The Havana Ho West Main Street in Northborough also sold to a minor, said Northborough Chief Mark Leahy said.

"We were happy to participate," said Leahy. "I was very pleased with the results, but perfect would have been better."  All the police officers said the businesses that failed would have to meet with the respective boards of selectmen for any possible punishments.

Catherine said she hopes the alcohol stings raise awareness.  "Preventing underage drinking is everyone’s responsibility," she said. "We will only change behavior by having adults and youth working together on this problem."
 

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