North Reading Police to Conduct Alcohol Compliance Checks

Police Chief Michael Murphy reports that the North Reading Police Department will conduct random checks of premises licensed to sell alcohol, to ensure that they are in compliance with local and state alcohol regulations. These checks are being done in an effort to restrict the availability of alcohol to minors.

"Alcohol consumption by young people has a profound effect on our community," Chief Murphy said. "Alcohol use by teens is related to traffic crashes, crime, poor performance in school and a number of other behaviors having an adverse impact on quality of life."

It should be noted, however, that the enforcement actions are not related to any specific rise or spike in underage drinking in North Reading. Rather, the department is being proactive in its approach to dealing with something that it recognizes is a problem in every city and town.

No single approach will entirely solve the problem of underage drinking. Each approach, however, implemented effectively, and used in concert with all the other strategies currently being implemented by Town organizations including the Police and North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition help reduce the scope of the problem.

The North Reading Police Department has trained officers in the procedures used to conduct lawful alcohol compliance checks of establishments licensed to serve alcohol, and these checks will become a routine part of the Department's crime prevention efforts.

"This is not one-time initiative," Chief Murphy said. "We periodically conduct compliance checks to ensure the safety of our children and to ensure that our licensed establishments are in compliance with the law."