NORTH READING — Chief Mark Zimmerman reports that the North Reading Police Department will be conducting minimum purchase age compliance checks through Dec. 31.
These checks are being done to ensure that licensed premises, including retailers, restaurants, lounges and clubs, are in compliance with local and state alcohol regulations, in an effort to restrict the availability of alcohol to minors.
“The North Reading Police Department has trained officers in the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission’s approved procedures on how to conduct lawful alcohol compliance checks of establishments licensed to serve alcohol,” said Chief Zimmerman.
Enforcement actions are not related to any specific rise or spike in underage drinking in North Reading. Rather, the North Reading Police Department is being proactive in its approach to ensuring that young people are not obtaining alcohol from local retailers.
“We’re entering the holiday time, and we have national historical data that shows this is a risky time for retailers to inadvertently sell alcohol to a minor,” said Chief Zimmerman. “It’s our aim that with compliance checks, staff will be reminded to check identification carefully to prevent an underage sale and especially one that may lead to an injury.”
Drug-Free Communities Director Amy Luckiewicz echoed the risk of this time of year, but also said there is a demonstrated need to be cautious year-round.
“In 2024, 24.7% of North Reading high schoolers reported using alcohol in the past 30 days across all grades. Although that’s less than last year, it’s still a concerning level,” Director Luckiewicz said.
In two public summer presentations, Luckiewicz also reported the results of a 2024 parent survey.
“Thirty-three percent of adults said they had provided alcohol to minors,” she said. “Also, 31% of the adults said they used alcohol with a minor. Clearly underage alcohol use is not the sole responsibility of retailers, which is why we use seven proven strategies for prevention. Compliance checks are just one of the strategies.”
In addition to the police compliance checks, Luckiewicz is also authorized by the Select Board to randomly make unannounced checks on the training offered to alcohol servers citing that proper training is critical to prevention. Since 2019, in North Reading, every person who serves, bar tends, rings in the sale of alcohol, or takes orders for alcohol must complete proper alcohol serving training prior to direct service of alcohol. Proper training programs for alcohol servers include information on how to properly check IDs, information on how to prevent over-serving, and how to de-escalate customers who over-consumed.
“This is not a one-time initiative,” Luckiewicz explained. “Training should be ongoing for staff who have the responsibility to make sure the person they are serving or selling to is of age.”
The North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition produces reminder sheets and tip sheets in between audit checks, and partners with businesses to ensure proper training is completed.
The North Reading Police Department also wishes to remind the community that they have a full-time Mental Health/Substance Use Clinician for people to contact if they need assistance.
Chief Zimmerman said, “Clinician Laura Miranda is on site in town. People can call her to seek help for alcohol treatment, substance use, or any mental health challenges,” said Chief Zimmerman.
