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The Mount Kisco Police Department did two rounds of compliance checks during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. They sent a team of officers, both uniformed and non-uniformed, into 13 businesses with liquor licenses. None sold alcohol to minors.
In an earlier compliance check done in May 2013 three businesses failed. Lt. Patrick O'Reilly, of the Mount Kisco Police Department, said the more recent check shows a significant improvement.
“This is, in part, a credit to continued efforts of both enforcement and education of the employee's,” O’Reilly said.
Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention, a program that addresses substance abuse, conducted Responsible Beverage Training sessions to educate both owners and servers to not sell alcohol to minors. Two restaurants that participated in the training were inspected, said Mel Berger, Director of Partners in Prevention.
The establishments inspected were: O’Connor’s; Mango Café; Village Social; Lexington Square; MTK Tavern; Café of Love Inc.; Holiday Inn; Applebee’s; Mary's Bar; Maya Restaurant; Tacos La Cabana; The Rose Room; Westchester Burger Company.
“The compliance checks are part of a concerted community effort to help keep our youth drug free,” said Nan Miller, coordinator of Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention. “In addition to these checks, Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention is working to educate parents about the importance of their not serving alcohol to teens at home and at parties.”
Partners in Prevention, and the recent compliance checks, were funded through a federal Drug-Free Community grant (DFC) to Mount Kisco.
Similarly, the Cortlandt Community Coalition has partnered with Westchester County police to curb underage drinking in Cortlandt as part of a 10-year partnership.
County police conducted alcohol compliance checks on 90 bartenders, waiters, clerks and store owners during a two-day period in late 2013. All of those inspected passed. Police used underage “agents” to make sure they comply with Alcohol Beverage Control laws.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, State Police did their own compliance checks. Out of the 15 checked, two sold alcohol to an 18-year-old working undercover, police said.
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