Cops in Shops in Kansas

Targeted Audience: Retail Liquor Stores & Convenience Stores

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Cops in Shops is a program to deter teens from attempting to purchase alcohol. Officers inside participating stores pose as retail clerks but do not participate in cash transactions. Officers cite minors attempting to purchase or steal alcohol and apprehend adults procuring alcohol for minors. Citations and penalties are then publicized to let young people know of the consequences of attempting to purchase alcohol in our city.

SPECIAL FEATURES
This program is initiated by local law enforcement and the Kansas Alcohol Safety Action Project. A planning committee is formed that includes representatives from local retailers, law enforcement agencies, city officials, youths in the community, the Kansas Alcohol Safety Action Project, and an evaluation staff from Lawrence. Retailers are recruited to participate in the program. An orientation is held for retailers and law enforcement; a press conference held at a participating store; a publicity campaign carried out; and participating stores display signs warning that “Police officers may be posing as employees.”

EVALUATION
In Topeka, during a 3-month period of the program, 12 underage youths were arrested for attempting to purchase beer, 12 were arrested for open container violations, and 4 for selling beer to minors. At convenience stores in Lawrence, during a 2-month period, 11 minors were arrested for possession, 5 were arrested for using fake identification, 3 for furnishing beer to minors, and 2 for open-container violations.

WHY IS PROGRAM EFFECTIVE
Low cost, participation by retailers, support of local law enforcement, local resources are involved, timing and the program responds to specific concerns of the community.

WHEN ESTABLISHED
1996

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROGRAM
None. Not required in Kansas.

HOW PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED
There are no written materials currently available. A “how to” manual will be written and made available after this year’s program.

PROGRAM COST AND/OR HOW FUNDED
There is no charge for participation in this program. It is funded by local law enforcement, the Kansas Bureau of Traffic Safety, Kansas Alcohol Safety Action Project, and through support from The Century Council.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
This program is part of a pilot program supported by the Kansas Bureau of Traffic Safety. It is currently in the final year of a 3-year effort.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

April Marvin

Kansas Alcohol Safety Action Project

3312 Clinton Parkway

Lawrence, KS 66047

Phone: (785) 841-2880

Cops in Shops in Texas

Targeted Audience: Underage/Retail Establishments

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Cops in Shops is a federally-funded program in which Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission agents pose as either employees or customers in retail establishments licensed for sales of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption. The goal is to enforce state laws regarding the illegal purchase of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 years of age.

SPECIAL FEATURES Agents working the Cops in Shops program spend four hours with clerks in assigned retail locations. During this 4-hour period, agents lend their expertise in detecting false identification, identifying characteristics of minors attempting to purchase alcohol, and detecting individuals who are intoxicated. Not only do the agent write citations to minors, but the store clerk will have more knowledge of how to prevent alcoholic beverages from getting into the wrong hands, for example through adult purchases for minors.

EVALUATION
From November 1, 1994 to August 31, 1995 over 7,000 citations were issued during Cops in Shops sessions. About 834 of those violations were to adults for making alcoholic beverages available to a minor. In FY 1997, 1,588 arrests were made during 3,608 enforcement hours for a ratio of 2.4 arrests per enforcement hour.

WHY IS PROGRAM EFFECTIVE This is a preventive program that deters underage drinking while enforcing the law in appropriate circumstances.

WHEN ESTABLISHED
1994

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROGRAM
State statutes and authority of Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission

HOW IS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED
Over 11,500 retail establishments in the program counties receive information about the program. Each month, over 120 of these establishments actually have Commission agents posing as employees or customers.

PROGRAM COST AND/OR HOW FUNDED Approximately $814,000 were used in FY 1996 of which $685,000 came from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant through the state Department of Transportation.

DATA SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM Comprehensive data including statistics, newspaper articles, and program procedures were provided to National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Don Engleking

Enforcement Division

Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission

P.O. Box 13127

Austin, TX 78711

Phone: (512) 206-3430

Cops in Shops in Virginia

Targeted Audience: Underage Purchasers of Alcohol

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Off-premise licensees place a poster in front window and sticker on beer cooler that reads: Under 21? Warning: Police Officers may be Posing as an Employee. Alcohol Beverage Commission (ABC) Special Agents work with licensees to apprehend underage persons attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages and users of false ID’s.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Special Agents, working overtime, pose as employees of the licensee. Licensees are awarded a certificate for participation which is placed in their permanent ABC file. Also, the ABC Board takes into consideration participation in Cops in Shops if a licensee is charged later with a violation. A cooperative effort involving law enforcement and licensees to ensure compliance with ABC laws and regulations.

EVALUATION
During a 2-year period of the Cops in Shops program, 320 underage youths were arrested for purchase or possession of alcoholic beverages, 42 were arrested for drinking alcohol in a public place, 23 for being drunk in public, 75 for attempting to use false identification to purchase alcohol, and 26 for purchasing alcohol for other minors.

WHY IS PROGRAM EFFECTIVE
Special Agents provide assistance to licensees in solving this major problem. Underage drinkers are kept off our highways.

WHEN ESTABLISHED
1995

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROGRAM
State law prohibits underage persons from purchasing alcoholic beverages.

HOW PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED
All off-premise licensees in the state have been contacted and invited to participate in the program. In addition, a news conference is held and the program is promoted by the news media.

PROGRAM COST AND/OR HOW FUNDED
A federal grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles supports the program.

DATA SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM
First 9 months of program were run only in Central and Tidewater Virginia and produced 125 arrests. A poster and a sticker from the program were provided to National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Sean Walker

Special Agent-In-Charge for Education & Training

Virginia Department of ABC

P.O. Box 27491

Richmond, VA 23261

Phone: (804) 213-4569