Limiting Youth Access to Alcohol

The problem of binge drinking among Fargo's youth is among the worst in the nation. The coalition uses alcohol compliance checks to help limit youth access to alcohol. The checks involve an underage person attempting to purchase alcohol from local liquor establishments.

The monthly checks are conducted in Fargo, West Fargo and Cass County, North Dakota and Moorhead and Clay County, Minnesota with the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies. A random pick determines which establishments are checked.

City of Fargo Compliance Check Failure Penalties for Licensees:
 First Offense–$500 penalty- may be waived if the server and the management have had server training.
Mandatory Server Training for all management and staff not trained.
Second Offense–$750 penalty
Third Offense–$1,000 penalty and 1-2 day suspension of liquor sales.
 Fourth Offense–3-5 day suspension of liquor sales.
 Fifth Offense–7-14 day suspension of liquor sales.
 Sixth Offense–10-20 day suspension of liquor sales.
 Seventh Offense–Revocation of liquor license.

The foregoing penalties for failing compliance checks will be those offenses occurring within a one-year period. Said one-year period commences to run and is calculated (365 days) from the first offense.

City of Moorhead Compliance Check Failure Penalties for Licensees:

First Offense-$250 Administrative Penalty
Second Offense-$500 Administrative Penalty & 1 day license suspension
Third Offense-$1,000 Administrative Penalty & 3 day license suspension

Offenses occurring within 24 months of any first violation

West Fargo Compliance Check Failure Penalties for Licensees:
No Server Training:
First Offense-Warning
Second Offense-Three day license suspension
Third Offense-10 day license suspension
Fourth Offense-30 day license suspension

Server Training:
First Offense-Warning
Second Offense-$250 Administrative Penalty
Third Offense-$500 Administrative Penalty 
Fourth Offense-Three day license suspension

Offenses occurring within 12 months of any first violation 

Alcohol Compliance Statistics for Jan.-Dec. 2012