Date of Release: October 31st 2008
Reference: Alcohol compliance checks
On Thursday October 30th 2008, the Portsmouth Police Department and the New Hampshire Bureau of Liquor Enforcement conducted a compliance check initiative in Portsmouth.
Compliance checks are an accurate way of determining if businesses and their employees are confirming that their customers are (at least) twenty one years old before selling them alcohol. During the compliance checks volunteers between the ages of eighteen and twenty years old, under the supervision of plain clothes officers, attempt to purchase alcohol.
During the compliance checks conducted on Thursday October 30th, seventy six restaurants/bars were checked. Three out of the seventy six provided alcohol to the underage volunteer. Just 4% of the establishments sold alcohol to an underage subject. Although this is well below the state average of 26% the goal is to achieve a 0% rate. Chief Magnant stated "Underage drinking is one of the areas that the Portsmouth police and the local hospitality industry have been discussing. Hopefully we are reaping the benefit of this partnership. It's very satisfying to see such a high compliance rate."
The servers who sold the alcohol were charged with Prohibited Sales (of alcohol), a misdemeanor offense. They were issued a summons and must appear for arraignment in the Portsmouth District Court on December 1st 2008. The establishments were also cited by the New Hampshire Bureau of Liquor Enforcement and face administrative penalties.
Establishments that sold to the underage volunteer were:
The Muddy River Smoke House Congress Street
Café Nostimo Mirona Road Suite 16
Pizza Hut Lafayette Road
Establishments who refused to sell to the underage volunteer:
100 Club Market Street
99 Restaurant Lafayette Road
Agave Mexican Bistro State Street
American Legion Post Islington Street
Angelina’s Mirona Road
Apple Bee’s Woodbury Ave.
Bella Luna Market Street
Black Trumpet Ceres Street
The Blue Claw Ceres Street
Blue Mermaid The Hill
Bob’s Broiled Chicken Islington Street
Brazo Pleasant Street
Brewery Lane Tavern Brewery Lane
Café Espresso Islington Street
Café Mediterraneo Congress Street
Café Mirabelle Bridge Street
Chiangmai Thai Penhallow Street
Coat of Arms Fleet Street
Daniel Street Tavern Daniel Street
Bratskella Lafayette Road
Dolphin Striker Bow Street
Dos Amigos / The Red Door State Street
Dunaway Restaurant Marcy Street
Fat Belly’s Bow Street
Flat Bread Company Congress Street
Four Restaurant State Street
Friendly Toast Congress Street
Green Monkey Pleasant Street
Hebert’s Restaurant Lafayette Road
Hibachi Japanese Steak House Lafayette Road
Hilton Garden Inn High Street
Holiday Inn Woodbury Ave.
Isis Penhallow Street
Jitto’s Lafayette Road
Joe’s New York Pizza Lafayette Road
Joe’s New York Pizza Woodbury Ave.
Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café Congress Street
Kim Lai Lafayette Road
Library Restaurant State Street
Loyal Oder of Moose Sagamore Ave.
Mo Jo’s BBQ Shack Islington Street
Momma D’s Route One By-Pass
Oar House Ceres Street
Paddy’s International Drive
The Page Hanover Street
Papa Gino’s Lafayette Road
Pesce Blue Congress Street
Poco’s Bow Street Cantina Bow Street
Popovers Congress Street
Portsmouth Brewery Company Market Street
Court Yard by Marriott Market Street
Portsmouth Gas Light Company Market Street
Elks-97 Jones Ave.
The Music Hall Chestnut Street
Sake Restaurant Congress Street
Press Room Daniel Street
Ristorante Massimo Penhallow Street
Rosa’s Restaurant State Street
Ruby Tuesday Woodbury Ave.
Rudi’s Restaurant High Street
Rusty Hammer Pleasant Street
Sakura Bana Restaurant Pleasant Street
Shalimar India Hanover Street
Sheraton Portsmouth Hotel Market Street
State Street Saloon State Street
The Stock Pot Bow Street
Taipei & Tokyo Woodbury Ave.
Thai Paradise Bridge Street
Margaritas Lafayette Road
TJ’s Daniel Street
VFW Post 168 Deer Street
Victory State Street
The Wellington Room Bow Street
The Portsmouth Police Department would like to thank the individuals that took the time to identify the volunteers as underage. Checking the customer’s identification helps keep the entire community safe.
The Portsmouth Police Department receives a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Justice. The grant is specific for enforcing underage drinking laws. The money received allows the Portsmouth Police Department to perform random compliance checks of both restaurants and convenience stores. We are also able to use the money to have roving patrols searching for underage drinking parties. These programs will continue throughout the year. In the near future we will be providing educational training to the youth in our schools. The Portsmouth Police Department is constantly trying to find new ways to keep our children and our community safe.
Anyone interested in more information about this program is asked to call Detective Sergeant Russell Russo at 610-7645. Anyone that has information about underage drinking or any other crime can call the Portsmouth Police Bureau of Investigative Services at 436-2511, or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 431-1199 or 207-439-1199, or the website at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org
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CHIEF OF POLICE
Distribution:
Portsmouth City Manager
Portsmouth Director of Public Works
Local Media
Police Department Personnel
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