Monday, Jul. 26, 2010

Grant to target alcohol violations

$35,000 from ABC will be used for education and enforcment

The Los Banos Police Department plans to use recently acquired state funding to crack down on businesses violating laws related to the sale of alcohol.

The department received a $35,000 grant from Alcoholic Beverage Control that will be used in various ways and have a substantial impact on curbing alcohol, according to the city's police chief.

Gary Brizzee said the grant will "allow us to do a significant amount of outreach, identification and training."

He said the money will enable law enforcement to check to see if the town's liquor stores are complying with existing regulations and allow police to conduct sting operations.

"We do a shoulder-tap program where an underage person taps an adult on the shoulder and asks them to buy alcohol for them," Brizzee said, explaining one of the operations police have used in the past and could be put into effect again with the grant funding. "The $35,000 grant is for anything associated with the abuse of alcohol."

Brizzee said the funds will also be used to educate employees at businesses that sell alcohol on how to spot fake identification.

With a number of bars, liquor stores, restaurants and convenience stores that sell alcohol in Los Banos, earlier this year questions arose at the Planning Commission level of whether too many alcohol licenses were being granted within city limits. In May, the city had 27 off-sale alcohol licenses in its boundaries. That number does not include restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages for consumption at their establishments.

Brizzee said he has no idea what the total number of alcohol licenses is in the city, but he recognizes there could come a time when there are too many.

"Not knowing how many there are, I do think at some point you will be over-saturated with alcohol licenses," Brizzee said.

He said having too many stores with alcohol licenses could lead to increased problems with underage drinkers shoplifting beer or wine.

Mayor Tommy Jones said the number of liquor licenses in Los Banos is ultimately regulated by the state.

"All of the guidelines for that are set by ABC. We are completely within the guidelines," Jones said.

Jones said he supports all grants the city obtains.

"I want to pursue and get as many grants as we can," he said.