April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and NC Alcohol Law Enforcement would like to take the opportunity to raise awareness of an important issue they encounter in our state: underage youth purchasing, possessing and consuming alcoholic beverages.

One of the ways North Carolina’s underage youth access alcoholic beverages is fake IDs. In 2023, ALE levied 538 charges for fraudulent identification. Fraudulent IDs may be borrowed, stolen, or manufactured. Today, fake IDs are frequently bought online from manufacturers in foreign countries that are difficult for law enforcement in the US to trace and shut down. This makes it much easier than it used to be for underage individuals to obtain a fraudulent identification. Sending your financial information to an unknowable online entity in a foreign country for black market goods is inherently risky, but that is far from the only danger for young people who use fake IDs.

"Using fake IDs to purchase alcohol underage isn’t just a crime that can have lasting consequences. It’s a risk to your safety as well as the safety of those around you," explained ALE Director Bryan House.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is a significant factor in injuries and fatalities to people under the age of 21 in the United States. Alcohol use at a young age also affects the developing brain and increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life. People who start drinking before the age of 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having alcohol use disorder as an adult than those who waited until age 21 or later.

"Underage drinking doesn't just impair judgment; it can shatter futures,” Director House said. “We have unfortunately seen how this can have long-lasting impacts on families and communities."

Underage drinking is a complex issue. There is no single solution, but ALE works in several ways to prevent underage youth from accessing alcohol. They conduct inspections of ABC-licensed establishments to make sure that IDs are being checked at the point of purchase. They also conduct educational programs for ABC-licensed permit holders and their employees, schools and civic groups.

ALE special agents educate students and civic groups about the dangers of underage drinking as well as drinking and driving.  The Be A Responsible Server/Seller (BARS) and Stop Alcohol Violence through employee Education (SAVE) programs are offered to ABC-licensed alcoholic beverage business owners and their employees. These trainings cover topics such as checking identifications, identifying fake IDs, source investigations, identifying underage and intoxicated people, how to refuse alcohol service to intoxicated individuals, information about deterring and preventing violence in and around ABC-licensed premises and general information about North Carolina ABC laws and regulations.

“ALE special agents train servers, clerks and bartenders how to responsibly sell alcohol through the Be A Responsible Seller program and how to safely run an alcohol business through Stop Alcohol Violence through employee Education programs,” Director House said. “These educational initiatives are designed to teach the important information employees need to prevent alcohol-related crimes and protect people in their communities.”

ALE conducts more than 500 BARS and SAVE programs each year. They are free of charge, and businesses can contact their ALE district office to schedule a session. ALE will be holding programs throughout the month of April. They will be announced on our social media.

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