Alcohol compliance check goes well in Troy

| November 12, 2008 11:00 PM

The Western News

An alcohol compliance check for Troy businesses yielded positive results, the police department there reported on Monday.

All 10 businesses currently operating in Troy with licenses to sell alcohol passed the latest round of compliance checks. Back on Sept. 16, three out of nine businesses checked failed.

“The awareness of Troy business employees has already improved, and the overall attitude toward the program seems to be more positive than expected,” said Troy patrol officer Kit Pearson, who organized the latest round.

At two of the Troy businesses, employees called police after an underage buyer contracted by the department attempted to purchase alcohol.

“We need help with the businesses to enforce state statutes,” Troy chief law enforcement officer Mitch Walters said. “Kudos to everyone who passed with special recognition to Booze-N-Bait and Trojan Lanes.”

Troy’s compliance checks program is funded by a sub-grant administered through the Montana Board of Crime Control entitled “Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws.”

The compliance checks program allows the department to contract potential alcohol purchasers under the age of 21. The program tests alcohol servers’ ability to adequately check identifications and properly refuse service to the potential underage alcohol buyers.

The department has funds for eight more rounds of compliance checks to be implemented by early July in Troy.

Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were among criteria used to secure grant funding. According to the YRBS, conducted by the state of Montana, the rate of binge drinking among Troy Middle School students has increased from 12.5 percent in 2001 to 25.4 percent in 2007. During those same years, the statewide average middle-school binge drinking has declined from 17.9 percent to 13.1 percent, according to the same surveys.

The YRBS also showed 37 percent of Troy High School students admitted to binge drinking in 2007. The state average for high school students was 32.7 percent.