Alcohol check shows 96 percent compliance

October 23, 2012

GUYMON — Youth volunteers and staff from Northwest Center for Behavioral Health Regional Prevention Coordinator, in partnership with the Guymon Police Department and the ABLE Commission, recently conducted Alcohol Compliance Checks in Guymon.
Checks were done in both businesses that sell for on-site consumption and those selling for off-site consumption.
Of the 13 retailers selling for off-site consumption, such as convenience, grocery and liquor stores, one sale was made to the underage volunteer. On-site consumption retailers made no underage sales. These figures indicate a 96 percent overall compliance rate for Guymon retailers.
A common characteristic of the violations included failure to ask for proper identification, however, some violators may ask for ID, but not look at the birthdate, or incorrectly compute the age of the licensee.
Many cash registers prompt the clerk to check IDs, then alert the clerk to underage customers. Other clerks seem to be unaware of the landscape of the Oklahoma Operator’s License.
Underage licenses are printed vertically, with red and yellow boxes indicating when the licensee will turn 18 (legal for tobacco purchases) and 21 (legal for beer, liquor purchases).
Retailers who refused sales to minors and deserve commendation for a job well done were:
Dancer’s Liquor Store
Qwik 6 Express
Caktus Jack’s Steakhouse & Saloon
Pizza Hut - North
United Discount Drug of Guymon
Kent Kwik
Christopher Package Store
Cigarette Outlet
Dizzy B’s Corner Mart
Mary Kay’s Convenience Store
Wes-T-Go #14
Taste of China Super Buffet
Wes-T-Go #32
New Dragon Restaurant
Margarita’s Steakhouse
Pop A Top Lounge
La Sierra Market
OK Liquor
Pub on the Bricks
Bob’s Cowboy Bar
Marla’s Restaurant
Those retailers who failed to ask for identification and proceeded to serve the minor were:
Peña Blanca Market
Any retailers interested in receiving assistance in training employees in Responsible Beverage Service and Sales may do so, free of charge, by contacting Main Street Guymon or Regional Prevention Coordinator at 580-571-3240.
This is a half-day training, and is provided at no cost to interested retailers.
Two sessions, morning and afternoon, will take place in Guymon on Oct. 30.