Claremore Daily Progress

Top Stories

December 14, 2012

Alcohol, tobacco compliance rate in Rogers County in decline

Tom Fink Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — Several Rogers County retailers recently failed random alcohol and tobacco compliance checks held by the Claremore Police Department in conjunction with ROCMND Regional Prevention Coordinator (RPC).

Of the eight alcohol retailers checked, two — the Quick Mart at 211 W. First St and Kwik Stop located at 2323 Holly Road — made a sale to a person under the age of 21.

The clerks who sold to a minor were issued a citation for furnishing alcohol to a person under the age of 21, as the sale of 3.2 alcohol to a minor is considered a misdemeanor and the ticket in Claremore costs $230.

Of the eight stores visited with Tobacco Reminder Checks,  five were found in compliance, asking the minor for an identification, and three failed to ask (the minor) for identification.

Stores who failed this tobacco compliance check were the Kum-n-Go at 1100 N. Lynn Riggs Blvd., Easy Mart at 211 W. First St., and Pete’s at 200 W. Blue Starr Dr.

Clerks who sold (tobacco) to a minor were issued a ticket by Claremore Police Department., with the fine for selling tobacco to a minor is $152.

Stores which were found to be in compliance included Murphys USA located at 1550 S. Lynn Riggs Blvd, QT located on Hwy 20, Buy n Bye at 601 E. Will Rogers Blvd., 5-11 at 1699 N. Lynn Riggs Blvd and OD’s at 1101 W. Blue Starr Dr.

Rogers County’s alcohol compliance rate seems to be declining, said Jennifer Hinson, ROCMND RPC.

“ In FY2011, their RPC Alcohol compliance rate was 84 percent,” Hinson said. “In FY2012, their RPC alcohol compliance rate was 78 percent, but their current rate of alcohol compliance is 75 percent.

“Alcohol retailers can improve their compliance rate by always asking for ID from anyone who looks younger than 40 and training their employees to correctly read ID’s,” she said. “ROCMND RPC holds responsible beverage service and sales trainings monthly at different locations in the ROCMND service area. Training is open to alcohol retail owners, managers, clerks and servers.”

Oklahoma ranks among those States with the highest rates of underage smoking in the country, according to ROCMN RPC statistics. Rogers County’s RPC tobacco compliance rate in FY2011 was 84 percent and in FY2012 it was 94 percent. Their current tobacco compliance rate is 62 percent.

Smoking kills 5,800 adults every year in Oklahoma. Youths now under 18 and alive in Oklahoma who will ultimately die prematurely from smoking is estimated to be 87,000, Hinson said.

Persons needing more information can call ROCMND RPC (918) 256-7518.

Text Only
Top Stories