Six businesses cited in alcohol compliance checks

Twenty Whitefish stores and bars had an underage "buyer" visit them on Dec. 16 and 17 as part of the Flathead County Alcohol Enforcement Team's compliance check program.

Six of the 20 Whitefish businesses failed the test, for a 30 percent failure rate — exactly the same numbers as for the last compliance check in November. Only one business failed again — Flanagan's Central Station.

Travis Bruyer, who heads up the program for the sheriff's office, says the team is always invited into the jurisdiction by the local police department.

He said two teams visited businesses across the valley, each consisting of one underage "buyer" and two officers. Each "buyer" was in possession of their own valid, unaltered driver's license listing their age of birth, and when asked for identification, the "buyer" did so. There was no attempt to deceive store clerks or servers.

Altogether, 25 of 33 businesses in the valley passed the compliance check, for a 75 percent passing rate. In November, 20 of 37 businesses in the valley passed, for a 54 percent compliance rate.

"Those who pass usually continue to pass," Bruyer said. "Those who fail may fail again."

Bruyer says it's important for the compliance rate to increase, and the federal grant the team received in June will fund additional checks through June next year.

"Once the compliance rate reaches 90 percent, failure is a surprise," he said. "Once we get to that point, we can focus on other issues, like kids soliciting sales from adults. That's the next step."

Bruyer said he can't see the compliance rate falling again, but he continues to see a lack of training, with cashiers over-riding age verifiers.

He said he was in one bar when a bartender turned away an underage "buyer" and then notified the other bars on the phone.

"That's a good thing, to alert the other bars," Bruyer said. "That's why I was so surprised when later the same bar failed."

He recommends businesses that fail compliance checks to sign up for free Tips Light training by contacting Wendy Olson at the Summit at 751-4502.

The training targets ID recognition and identifies issues surrounding responsible alcohol sales.

Whitefish businesses that passed the December compliance check were Mike's Conoco, Paddle and Axe, Truby's, Palace Bar, Great Northern Bar, Markus Foods, Emerald City Casino, Remington Bar, Lucky Lil's, VFW Lounge, Town Pump, Casey's Bar, Westside Exxon and Alpine Market.

Cited in Whitefish for unlawful transaction, a misdemeanor, were Flanagan's Central Station, Matthew Farmer, 31, of Whitefish; Bulldog Saloon, Dana Dietrich, 44, of Whitefish; Pin and Cue, Tracy Pledger, 42, or Marion; Midway Mini Mart, Autymn Taylor, 28, of Whitefish; Safeway, Diane Keefauver, 54, of Whitefish; and Super 1 Foods, Joelle Forman, 38, of Columbia Falls.