Step in the wrong direction

Results from the recent alcohol compliance check in the city of Hannibal were sobering. Just over half the establishments (five of nine) passed during the Hannibal Police Department’s June 19 on-site check.
Prior to the most recent check, local convenience stores and drinking establishments had been doing a good job of keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors. Thus far in 2009 the HPD has conducted a total of 39 compliance checks at various businesses in Hannibal and have found a total of six not in compliance.
Are the recent results an aberration or the start of a trend?
In 2007, Hannibal officers conducted over 70 on-site checks and found that minors were able to obtain alcoholic beverages nearly 50 percent of the time. At the time, Chief Lyndell Davis said serious steps needed to be taken to curb the problem, including the loss or suspension of liquor licenses of those businesses failing to comply.
The city council, HPD and several local businesses joined together in 2007 to find a more proactive solution to prevent the sale of liquor to minors. Stricter city ordinances were passed in January 2008 concerning the sale of alcohol to minors. Cooperative efforts were also launched between local businesses and the HPD, ranging from police officers providing training to the employees of local businesses to increased awareness of the problem and posting signage in the business reminding potential violators of the law.
Typically, the person who sells the alcohol to a minor receives a citation. There’s also administrative sanctions that come into play against the business owner.
Shame on those who have been found to be selling alcohol to minors during the most recent check. While we are not so naive as to believe that minors could not secure alcohol if businesses were 100 percent compliant, there is still no excuse for this avenue to be open.
We encourage the HPD to continue its compliance checks. We also urge the city council to revisit this issue if compliance among local businesses continues to slip.