Crime & Safety

Lake Forest Businesses Refuse Underage Alcohol Sales

Thirteen Lake Forest stores were recently tested to see if they would sell liquor to customers under 21.

Lake Forest was among a number of Lake County towns that conducted liquor compliance checks in conjunction with Homecoming season.

The police department sent teens into local establishments to see if the businesses would allow them to purchase alcohol using identification showing they were underage.

All 13 businesses checked in Lake Forest turned the underage customers away.

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A total of 218 compliance checks were performed in Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Grayslake, Hainesville, Highland Park, unincorporated Lake County, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Mundelein, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills, Winthrop Harbor and Zion.

Thirteen violations were reported in all, including four in Winthrop Harbor, four in unincorporated Lake County, two in Lake Zurich, and one apiece in Highland Park, Mundelein and Riverwoods.

The checks were part of an initiative by the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force which was formed to combine the efforts of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lake County After School Coalition in the prevention of underage consumption of alcohol. This group is made up of a diverse group of citizens including community members, parents, law enforcement personnel and other professionals interested in preventing underage drinking. 

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“Consistency from community to community and monitoring underage drinking issues will help us be successful in addressing this problem and saving lives. Our desire is to see 100 percent compliance, but it is refreshing to see the majority of businesses realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants,” said Bruce Johnson, chairman of the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force.

Sale of alcohol to a person under 21 years of age is illegal under local and state laws and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, fine or probation.


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