Pittsfield Bars, Package Stores Carding at 87 Percent Rate
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A recent Alcohol Purchase Survey conducted by the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership (PPP) suggests that Pittsfield liquor establishments need to do a better job of carding young-looking buyers.
Fifty-seven establishments were visited; of those, fifty establishments asked young looking 21- to 23-year-olds for identification, an 87 percent card rate.
An Alcohol Purchase Survey is not a “sting” operation. Rather, it seeks to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage young adults by making bartenders and liquor clerks more aware of the issue of youth substance abuse, while also allowing the PPP to assess the retail availability of alcohol to minors. The survey involves youthful-looking adults between the ages of 21-23 years who go into liquor licensed establishments to determine if they will be challenged for identification. At no time are any laws broken during this project however, all information from the surveys will be forwarded to the police department and the local license board. The individual stores and bars will also be notified of the results.
“The purpose of the alcohol purchase surveys is to raise awareness in the community regarding the retail availability of alcohol to minors,” said Arsema Abegaz, Coordinator of the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership. “It’s important for young people to know that the adult community as a whole is concerned about underage drinking, and is actively seeking to prevent it.”
Both the young adult buyers as well as the involved bartenders and clerks were positive about their participation in the survey.
“Keep doing a good job”, one clerk said. When the clerk or bartender is asked for identification, the shopper handed them a green card, a gift card for coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts as a way of thanking them for their diligent work, along with an explanation of the project’s objective. A few of the establishments visited had still kept onto their green cards from prior surveys, which they kept proudly on display.
The PPP also sponsored alcohol server trainings this summer. About 71 servers from 35 vendors were trained in TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures). Participants in the educational programs are told to follow the National Restaurant Association guidelines, which recommend that servers card “anyone who doesn’t have wrinkles.”
The PPP will be hosting another TIPS training on Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. For more information and registration, visit www.pittsfieldpreventionpartnership.org.
The Pittsfield Prevention Partnership is an initiative of the Berkshire United Way. The PPP was formed in 2004 to bring various community members and groups together to work collaboratively and discover ways to make an impact on youth substance abuse in Pittsfield.
