10 arrested for selling alcohol to minors

Ten individuals were jailed for selling alcoholic beverages to minors as their businesses face possible license revocation while two other establishments were deemed non-compliant under tobacco control laws.

The Department of Public Safety and Department of Commerce’s Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control conducted a two-day joint operation in 80 randomly selected establishments last March 28 and 29 where 12 establishments failed the alcohol compliance checks.

As a result, the store cashiers or persons responsible for the illegal sales of alcohol to minors were subsequently booked and detained at the Department of Corrections.

ABTC will be pursuing administrative sanctions against the storeowners where the violations occurred and each of the establishments will be facing $1,000 in fines.

“These violations pose a major concern in our community, and most importantly, the safety and well-being of our youth. What is most disturbing is the fact that the individuals who were arrested have actually taken the training provided by the ABTC division with respect to responsible alcohol and tobacco sales and services,” Commerce Secretary Mark O. Rabauliman said.

The training is tailored to certify the storeowners including their employees in ensuring that the mandatory I.D. card requirement is strictly enforced and to ensure that sales to minors do not occur.

“However, it appears that there exists a wanton disregard of law with respect to those individuals involved in the illegal sales, who now face the consequences,” Rabauliman said.

“I want to make it seriously clear that this type of behavior and violations from the licensed establishments will not be tolerated and will not go unpunished. Therefore, I am exercising my authority, in the public’s best interest and in accordance with Title 4 CMC § 5597, to revoke the licenses from those establishments involved in the illegal sales on top of instituting the $1,000 fine,” he added.

Rabauliman added that it is their duty to safeguard the youth from these practices.

“I am not making this decision to hurt these businesses. However, as the secretary of Commerce, part of my duty and the administration’s objective is to ensure that are youth are safeguarded from harm that may be caused from unscrupulous business practices,” Rabauliman added.

According to Rabauliman, the establishment may appeal the decision through a request for an administrative hearing that is accorded under the Administrative Procedures Act in the event a decision is made to automatically revoke a license.

“It is imperative that a strong message must be sent to ensure that we are serious with our concerted efforts in keeping our community and youth safe. If it leads to revoking their license for one year, perhaps the message will instill across the board that underage drinking continues to be a serious problem in our society and a part of the source of this problem is from retail establishments that are illegally allowing such sales to minors,” ABTC director David R. Maratita said.

ABTC said it is doing everything within its authority to keep the licensed establishments under compliance with the law.

There are 452 licensed establishments to sell alcoholic beverages with ABTC having certified over 600 individuals who underwent the Responsible Alcohol and Tobacco Sales and Services Training Program.

Over the weekend, 182 random compliance checks were conducted on a separate joint operation on tobacco control laws through the SYNAR regulations where two establishments were found to be non-compliant.

“Although there were no arrests made during the joint tobacco enforcement operation, the establishments involved with the illegal sales of tobacco products to minors also faced consequences in losing their license,” Maratita added.

The SYNAR regulations are administered by the Community Guidance Center under the auspices of the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation through collaborative enforcement efforts with DPS and Commerce’s ABTC.

“This is a testament to the great partnership that has been forged throughout the years in efforts to protect the young and vulnerable members of our community from the dangers of alcohol and tobacco,” Community Guidance Center prevention service manager of the Tiara N. Evangelista said.

Rabauliman concluded that they continuously seek the support of the community to call the ABTC Hotline at 285-1821 to report violations of the alcohol and tobacco laws

“The continued partnership and efforts along with the help of the community will help reduce and eliminate underage drinking and underage use of tobacco products in our community,” Rabauliman said.