Alcohol compliance improves

The Daily Inter Lake

More than 60 percent of businesses in the Kalispell, Evergreen, Lakeside, and Bigfork areas passed compliance checks conducted last month by the Flathead County Alcohol Enforcement Team.

Of the 46 establishments checked, employees at 28 determined that customers were under 21 and did not sell them alcohol.

The compliance rate in February 2009 increased from 47 percent in February 2008, according to Travis Bruyer, the Alcohol Enforcement Team coordinator and a Flathead County Sheriff's detective.

The checks were conducted with volunteer underage buyers who, when asked, provided servers with their actual, valid IDs.

Businesses checked included restaurants, casinos, convenience stores and bars - all of which have the same liability and face the same penalties for serving alcohol to minors.

The establishments that passed the test were:

Gold Country Casino in Kila, Kelly Rae's convenience store in Kila, the Bierstube on Big Mountain, the Hellroaring Saloon on Big Mountain, the Big Mountain General Store, Kum 'n' Go on U.S. 93 South, the Holiday gas station in Evergreen, Kmart, Super 1 Foods in Evergreen, Town Pump on U.S. 93 South, Famous Dave's in Kalispell, Pick's Bowling in Bigfork, Bigfork Stage Stop on Montana 35, BYOB Liquor in Kalispell, Rosauers Food and Drug in Kalispell, Montana Liquor in Kalispell, Gold Dust Casino in Kalispell, Rainbow Bar in Evergreen, Evergreen Gas and Deli, Brian's Cenex in Evergreen, Evergreen Liquor, Homestead Cafe in Lakeside, Lakeside Gas and Deli, Short Branch Saloon in Lakeside, Tall Pine Lounge and Liquor Store in Bigfork, Deer Lick Saloon in Martin City, Mike's Conoco in Hungry Horse, and the Dew Drop Inn in Coram.

The establishments that failed the test were:

The McGregor Lake resort in Marion, Rail Line Tavern in Marion, Hill Top Bar in Marion, Ed and Mulley's on Big Mountain, Sawbuck Saloon, Cottage Bar in Kila, Stillwater Bar in Olney, Olney Mercantile, Grizzly Jack's in Bigfork, Cenex Harvest States in Kalispell, Charlie Wongs Restaurant in Evergreen, Lane's Conoco, Scoreboard Pub and Casino, Woodland Quick Stop, Kum 'n' Go on East Idaho Street, Smith's grocery store in Kalispell, Coram Glacier Center, and Town Pump on U.S. 2 and Reserve Drive.

Each business will be fined $250 for a first offense. A second offense carries a $1,000 fine; a third offense carries a $1,500 fine and a 20-day suspension of the establishment's liquor license; a fourth offense can result in a liquor license revocation.

The individual servers will be charged with sale of alcohol to minors and also face fines.

Servers who passed the test will be rewarded with gift cards, according to the Alcohol Enforcement Team.