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ABTC division still understaffed
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Posted on Apr 23 2008
The Department of Commerce’s Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division is still understaffed, according to the department’s deputy secretary Michael Ada.
“The ABTC division is still understaffed. We have one vacancy due to the death of a staff member in the process of being filled. However, while we are waiting on that position to be filled, we had another staff member from ABTC resign because he was moving off-island. So, we are right back to square one,” said Ada in an e-mail to the Saipan Tribune.
To resolve the shortage in personnel, Commerce has resorted to getting help from the department’s other divisions to fulfill some of the functions of ABTC, which recently have included presentations to the community.
“We are still using staff in other areas to assist with the shortage. The cool thing is that although we may be shorthanded, we are still out in the community enforcing ABTC regulations, but the ABTC division has also done several presentations to the high schools and PTAs regarding ABTC laws,” said Ada.
“We have had positive response from the community in this effort. We are scheduled to present in the junior high schools in the coming weeks. So, although [ABTC is] shorthanded, they have found a way to continue to respond to the community’s needs.”
Despite the shortage in manpower, ABTC has been able perform its duties. Last year, the division issued a total of 625 alcohol licenses to retailers, wholesalers, and establishment licenses (bars, restaurants, etc.) in calendar year 2007.
In addition, ABTC also issued 317 tobacco licenses, which included nine wholesale licenses and 308 retail licenses.
In the FY 2007, ABTC also cited four violations, which included three tobacco violations for not having the products in secure casings and one liquor violation for operating after hours.
