City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2015

CONTACT: Lt Krista Shouse-Jones
(573)874-7525
[email protected]

Sgt. Chad Gooch
[email protected]

Officer Latisha Stroer, Public Information Officer
Columbia Police Department
(573)874-7448
[email protected]

The Columbia Police Department Conducting Compliance Checks

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

THE COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTING COMPLIANCE CHECKS

The Columbia Police Department will again be conducting alcohol compliance checks in the near future.  The purpose of these checks is to assess the level of availability of alcohol within our community and prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors, creating a safer and healthier environment for our youth.

Underage buyers, working under the supervision of law enforcement, will go to local businesses and attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages.  Employees and employers caught selling alcohol to minors will be cited and the cases will be referred to the appropriate agencies for prosecution.  The maximum penalty for the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors in Missouri is $1,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail.

During these compliance checks, law enforcement officers will also be checking to ensure businesses and employees are in compliance with the server certificate requirements of City Ordinance 4-102. 

The goal of this program is to get servers the information and tools they need to serve alcohol responsibly. This will result in:

•           reduced liability for servers and businesses

•           a decrease in underage drinking and binge drinking

•           fewer alcohol related accidents, including nighttime DWI crashes

•           less crime (property damage, assault, sexual assault)

Responsible alcohol sales and service ensure that underage drinking and its negative consequences are reduced.   We hope all employees of alcohol retailers will refuse to sell alcoholic beverages to underage buyers. 

Questions regarding this program may be referred to Sergeant Chad Gooch or Lt. Krista Shouse-Jones at the Columbia Police Department.

This project was supported by funding made available through the Youth Community Coalition of Columbia through grants from Partnership for Success and STOP ACT through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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