CHCC supports 100 pct ID checks for alcohol, tobacco

The local hospital has informed House of Representatives lawmakers of the “effective” strategy of a “100 percent ID Check” for the sale of alcohol and tobacco in the community, in its written comments on a House bill that would change this requirement.

House Bill 19-141 amends law to allow retail stores to exercise “prudent judgment” on the sale of alcohol or tobacco to those “who obviously appears to below” 35 years of age.

In an April 22 letter to the House committee on commerce and tourism, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. says that “for more than 10 years its Prevention Services Unit, along with public safety and commerce departments have worked tirelessly to conduct compliance checks to ensure retail stores comply with the 100 percent ID check policy.

CHCC says this approach has resulted in deceased accessibility of alcohol and tobacco products by minors and increased compliance of the law by retail establishments.

“Beginning in the late ’90s, the non-compliance rate of retailers selling tobacco and alcohol products to minors was at over 90 percent. Since 2007…we have consistently maintained non-compliance rate below 13 percent,” said CHCC CEO Esther Muna in the letter.

“The absence of the 100 percent ID Check Law places the youth population at an increased risk of accessing these dangerous and addictive substances,” she also said.

CHCC recommends stronger collaboration between existing substance abuse entities and public discourse to discuss the matter more concretely, so that they can assess the risks and benefits involved in amending this law.

In its committee report, the House commerce committee—recommends the bill’s passage—says current ID check requirements have “proven to be an inconvenience to customers and renders an adverse effect on businesses.”

“Due to the way our statutes are currently written, business vendors are not allowed to sell alcohol and tobacco products to customers who do not have their [IDs] presently in their possession despite the fact the customer is obviously much older” than the age limit,said the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan), said.

The Natibu Sports Association, though, in their comments on the bill, says it sends the wrong message to the youth.

The association says it should not feel as an “inconvenience for identification to be required, but rather it should be a privilege.”

“This means if you have proper ID, then you are able to purchase products made for adults,” said NSA president Jodina C. Attao in their March letter.

“Moreover,” she adds, “if you are driving to a store to purchase these items, then you should already have proper identification with you to drive your car as well.”