The number of Blaine County businesses selling alcohol to minors increased by 11 percent in the latest round of compliance checks conducted by the newly organized Blaine County Alcohol Compliance Task Force.
In checks this month, 15 of 26 businesses tested allegedly sold alcohol to people under 21, resulting in a compliance rate of only 42 percent. That compares with the task force's first round of compliance checks in August when 9 of 19 businesses tested sold to minors, resulting in a compliance rate of 53 percent.
Businesses in Bellevue scored the worst, with only one in seven not selling to minors. Carey scored the highest, with three of four businesses complying with the law.
Unlike the first round of compliance checks, when only warnings were given, misdemeanor citations were issued to the clerks at eight businesses for allegedly selling alcohol to minors.
The task force was organized this summer to combat alcohol sales to minors in Blaine County. Task force membership consists of the Blaine County Community Drug Coalition, the Blaine County Sheriff's Office, the Bellevue Marshal's Office and the police departments in Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley.
Drug Coalition Executive Director Terry Basolo said that while he's concerned about the increased rate of illegal sales, the results were not altogether unexpected.
"It certainly underscores the need for the project," Basolo said. "It takes a while to get the message out. Forty-five percent compliance is the national average of where these programs are when they're first started, so I think we're about where we'd expect to be at the beginning of the program."
The first round of compliance checks was conducted on only retail outlets. The second round included bars and restaurants.
Basolo said bars and restaurants that sold to minors were only issued warnings, but retail stores, who should by now be familiar with the program, were not spared citations.
According to the task force, Carey had a compliance rate of 75 percent, while Bellevue had a compliance rate of 15 percent.
In Hailey, two of seven businesses didn't sell to minors, resulting in a compliance rate of 29 percent. Ketchum had a compliance rate of 67 percent, with four of six businesses not selling to minors. Sun Valley had a compliance rate of 50 percent, with one of two businesses in compliance with the law.
The task force reported that clerks were cited at the Shell station, Guffy's and Splash & Dash in Bellevue, at Sun Valley Deli in Sun Valley, at Veltex Market in Ketchum and at the Chevron station, Albertsons Express and Albertsons grocery store in Hailey.
Basolo said the task force will continue compliance checking, likely about once per month.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Whiskey Jacques’ bartender Matt Kendrick checks identification Saturday on Thane Freeman at the restaurant and nightclub in Ketchum. Since Freeman is 22, he could legally be served a drink. Elsewhere in the valley, 15 out of 26 businesses checked this month by the Blaine County Alcohol Compliance Task Force allegedly sold alcohol to people under the age of 21. Photo by Willy Cook
