IMPORTANT NEWS...
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Finds High Retailer Compliance Rate for March
April 9, 2010
TALLAHASSEE—Today, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco announced that for the month of March, 89 percent of retailers tested did not sell alcohol to underage youth. Throughout March, ABT agents conducted 733 alcohol compliance checks with an overall compliance rate of 89 percent.
“Retailer compliance checks are an important part of ensuring that our alcohol licensees are following state laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to underage youth,” said Interim Secretary Charlie Liem.
Retailer compliance checks are conducted using investigative aides under 21 years old who attempt to purchase alcohol at randomly selected licensed establishments. Retailers that sell alcohol to the investigative aides are issued notices to appear and educated on checking identification. The information below shows the results of the March compliance checks by ABT district offices:
District |
Stores Surveyed |
Compliance Rate |
| Gainesville | 89 | 91% |
| Jacksonville | 115 | 97% |
| Panama City | 16 | 88% |
| Tallahassee | 7 | 86% |
| Tampa | 83 | 92% |
| Daytona Beach | 13 | 46% |
| Ft. Lauderdale | 82 | 84% |
| Ft. Myers | 49 | 82% |
| Ft. Pierce | 62 | 98% |
| Miami | 24 | 46% |
| Orlando | 92 | 96% |
| West Palm Beach | 101 | 89% |
*ABT District Offices
Establishments that sell alcohol to individuals under the age of 21 three times in a 12-week period face up to a $1,000 fine and a seven-day license suspension. Individuals who sell or give alcohol to underage youth face a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com.