During their annual awards dinner in honor of servers who have adhered to laws for refusing to sell alcohol to underage youths, Statewide EUDL coordinator Kathy Bartosz, Lyon Sheriff Allen Veil, Sgt. Deputy Bryan Parsons, Lyon District Attorney Robert Auer, and EUDL (Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws) regional coordinator Mary Boettcher honored Cindy Pillion of Carson Plains Market, Greg Smith of S&S Market, Maxeen Swain of Burke's, Michael Gillies, Hans Leer and Cheri Willis.
Mary Boettcher and a crew of Silver Springs youths appropriately dressed as waiters transformed the Silver Springs Community Center's Lahontan Room into an "Italian restaurant" complete with music and candle light, and where a gourmet dinner, prepared by volunteer Rod Sanchez, was part of the special evening to honor the servers who play their part in keeping area young people and communities safe by following the law and refusing to sell alcohol to underage youths.
The servers from businesses in the Silver Springs, Stagecoach and Dayton areas, including Greg Smith of S & S Market and Cindy Pillion of Carson Plains Market, both located in Dayton, and Maxeen Swain of Burke's, Hans Leer and Cheri Willis of Silver Saver and Michael Gillies of Silver Strike, all located in Silver Springs, passed compliance checks in which decoys used their own or fake IDs to try to buy alcohol. Each was presented with a certificate and thanked by Lyon District Attorney Bob Auer, Lyon Sheriff Allen Veil and Youth Services Sergeant Bryan Parsons, Mary Boettcher of Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL), and Kathy Bartos of Partnership Carson City, who is also the Statewide EUDL coordinator.
After dinner, Bartos, Auer and Veil honored the servers from area businesses and explained why it's so important to keep alcohol out of the hands of youngsters. Bartos, Statewide Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Coordinator, noted that "Lyon County is very progressive, partly due to the diligence of those here today, those on the front lines." She went on to say that "we appreciate you taking the time to keep alcohol from the hands of our young people. I honor what you do. And Mary Boettcher does a fantastic job as well."
Auer handed around a photo of a demolished car, the result of a head-on collision of an inebriated teen driver and a mother and her toddler. He explained, "when someone doesn't check the IDs, the police department end up seeing things they do not want to see and I end up prosecuting things I never wanted to see."
Finally, Veil thanked the servers, saying, "I think you're doing the right thing for the right reason -- because you care. It's not our desire to fine and punish, we want to do prevention. We want our children to grow up to be adults. I congratulate you for making Lyon County a safer place to live." Veil also noted that Boettcher is "very gracious" in working with businesses on this issue, and stated that "the way she works with this program is nothing short of remarkable." Boettcher, coordinator for the Lyon area EUDL project, partners with area law enforcement to offer free training for businesses and servers regarding alcohol laws and minors. The training, Server Training for Area Retailers (STAR), is free and Boettcher goes out of her way to make them convenient for businesses. There are seven trainings being offered on May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Nov. 9, and Dec. 14 at the Lyon County Substation in Dayton alone. In addition, business owners are invited to call Boettcher to schedule an alcohol server training at their own businesses at other times that are more convenient for them.
During the training, Boettcher and officers teach servers and business owners how and when to refuse sales and avoid third party sales, how to check IDs, protect businesses from theft and manage alcohol displays. They also explain current Nevada State Laws on alcohol sales.
The compliance checks involve a long process. Boettcher first does a baseline survey using two 21 year olds to give a baseline of what businesses are doing as far as checking IDs. All businesses are offered workshops on the laws for serving alcohol before the compliance checks begin.
Under current ordinances, businesses can fail the compliance checks up to three times in a 12 month period and still not lose their liquor license. When they do lose their license, it is typically only for a few days. Servers, rather than business owners, are fined $1,200 if they sell alcohol to minors. Carson City currently has stricter ordinances that include fines for business owners as well as servers.
The EUDL project is one of many efforts to prevent and stop underage drinking in our area. There are also Stand Tall alcohol, tobacco and other drug use prevention youth teams in schools throughout Lyon, Mineral and Storey who lead a number of campaigns and events aimed at preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The next major event organized and sponsored by Stand Tall youth teams is the Party House, which will take place in Dayton on Friday, April 24, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Carson River Estates. The dramatization is an alcohol and other drug prevention education event for parents, officials and other adults. If you'd like to know more about The Party House, please call Stand Tall coordinator Lavurne Jeffreys at 246-7550. If you'd like to know more about STAR trainings, call Boettcher at 246-0320.
