2.  3170 deaths  300,ooo DWI crashes  540,o00 violent crimes  1.2 million property crimes  400,000 risky sexual encounters  100,000 alcohol poisonings & psychoses  70,000 kids in alcohol treatment Miller, T.R. (2009) Societal Costs of Underage Drinking

3.  Prevention experts agree that strengthening and enforcing alcohol sales and service regulations is an effective strategy for reducing alcohol-related harm. * Source: World Health Organization, Institute of Medicine, CDC Community Guide, Join Together Online

5.  35 states have ABC officers who are sworn peace officers  The average number of ABC agents that primarily enforce alcohol laws per state: 54  Average number of licensed retail outlets per state: 14, 112  Range of ABC agents per state: 3 to 260  National ratio: 1 agent for every 268 licensed establishments Source: Ramirez, PIRE - 2007

6. Enforcement Media Licensed community Increased awareness and perception of penalty Increased licensee compliance Regulations Laws Reduced alcohol related harm

7.  State agencies are often under funded by those elected to public office and who vote for budgets. “Can’t the local police do this job?” (State of Maine)  There are rarely have enough resources to get the job done adequately.  Generally, we do not do a good job of making the connection between our enforcement role and public safety, public welfare and quality of life.

8.  The enforcement of statutes and regulations that seem to lack importance! (“What’s the big deal?”)  We often don’t do a good job at explaining our role and responsibility to those who give us oversight. (legislators - the public)  Advocating for the adoption of rules and regulations that are often unenforceable and paint us into a corner. “If we enforce these provisions as written then everyone will be in violation.”

9.  Statutory authority for enforcement of alcohol laws (exclusive or joint authority to enforce).  Administrative Process – potentially challenging for traditional law enforcement who are more accustom to trials and motor vehicle hearings.  Adjudications and Penalties – Law enforcement may shy away from enforcement is they perceive the penalties do not match effort put into the enforcement of alcohol laws.

10.  The Missouri legislature has cut over $1 million from its Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, leaving 5 agents to monitor 12,000 liquor licenses, the Associated Press reported June 14, 2010.  The burden will now be on local law enforcement to bridge the regulatory gap -- checking licenses and monitoring the sale of alcohol to minors -- a task police officials say stresses an already overextended police force.  "Everyone knows we don't have the funds to continue the way we were before," said Sen. Kurt Schaefer, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We can only enforce what we can afford to enforce.“

11. Tom Roth Captain Westbrook Maine Police Michelle Robert Assistant Attorney General State of Maine