The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control is trying to stop underage drinking, in perhaps the stealthiest way possible. The Phoenix New Times reports that the Covert Underage Buyer (CUB), which is funded by the Arizona DLLC, continues to increase the amount of citations given to bars and establishments that serve alcohol to teenagers.
CUB gave out 797 citations in 2009. The program sends teenagers, ages 15 to 19, into bars or liquor stores to see if the staff at the establishments check for identification. The underage buyers with CUB only get sent into establishments that have already received a complaint. The targeted liquor stores and bars are caught by CUB members 29 percent of the time, according to Phoenix New Times.
DLLC reports that the CUB program started in May of 2003, as an effort to to curb alcohol sales and consumption to underage individuals. The CUB teenagers that participate in the program are carefully trained to follow state laws and DLLC guidelines. And no, teenagers cannot get drunk on the job if they're served alcohol. There is absolutely no sipping allowed on the job. The CUB teenagers are accompanied by DLLC officers, and local law enforcement agencies in Arizona provide all the necessary training.
Since the inception of the program, 2,576 establishments have been investigated. The program can at least put some Phoenix individuals at ease, knowing that law enforcers are cracking down on underage drinking. This probably makes the roads a bit safer, since there are probably less underage drunk drivers. If you have a concern about a particular establishment that is serving alcohol to underage individuals, you can contact DLLC through their website.
Related Resources:
- Underage Drinking Continues to Plague Colleges (FindLaw Knowledgebase)
- What Kind of Penalty am I Likely to Get for Drunk Driving? (FindLaw)
- Arizona DUI Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
