The provincial government's "minors as agents" program has put a dent in the illicit sale of alcohol to underage customers.
In all 344 private liquor stores and 98 government liquor stores were tested, with an overall compliance rate of 87 per cent, the provincial government said Tuesday.
Since May 2011, undercover agents who are also underage have been used to assess compliance with the province's regulations prohibiting alcohol sales to minors.
When conducting a sting, two liquor inspectors
accompany a minor agent.
Following a risk assessment to make sure the store is safe to enter, the minor agent goes in under close observation by the inspectors, selects product, and attempts a purchase.
If the purchase attempt has been successful, the minor turns over any purchased liquor and receipt to the liquor inspector for proper retention and documentation, said the spokesperson.
The program comes after the government amended the Liquor Control and Licensing Act in 2010 to allow minors to make purchases for the purpose of testing liquor stores' compliance with the law.
Prior to that, the LCLB had been relying on youthful-looking agents but because they were 19 years or older, the LCLB did not have authority to take action against stores that failed to ask for ID.
The compliance rate under that method was just 29 per cent.
Just one Prince George outlet has been caught under the new system. The College Heights Pub liquor store was fined $7,500 as a result of a November 2011 sting.
The store signed a waiver agreeing to the penalty and the matter did not proceed to an adjudicated
enforcement hearing.
A first contravention carries a $7,500 to $10,000 fine and-or a 10-to-15 day suspension. A second contravention means a 20-to-30 day suspension.
