ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS

Alcohol and tobacco compliance checks are conducted by the Bureau of Enforcement to ensure retail licensees are complying with NH state laws regarding the lawful sale of age restricted products, specifically alcohol and tobacco products. In order to maintain the credibility of the Compliance Check program, personnel performing such operations must adhere to strict measures.

1. The safety of the Underage Buyer is always the Bureau's primary concern, therefore compliance checks shall be conducted with this purpose; no check shall be conducted where the safety of the underage buyer is in question.

2. In order to fairly carry out the alcohol compliance check the Underage Buyer, known hereafter as the UB, shall appear to a "reasonable person" to be someone whose age is in question. UB's must appear to be between the ages of 17 and 20, however if the UB is 20, their physical appearance must be that of a person 17 to 19 years of age. If at all possible, avoid the borderline age of 20 to help expel " Apparent age" challenges or confusion if the UB turns 21 between the purchase and any trial or administrative action. This is an area where investigators discretion is vital in the standard of the operation.

3. Tobacco compliance checks: the UB must be between the ages of 15 and 17. Avoid the borderline age of 17 to help expel "apparent age" challenges or confusion if the UB turns 18 between the time of the purchase and any trial or administrative action.

4. Females shall wear little to no makeup, wear casual attire and be of an average height and build. Males shall have no facial hair, wear casual attire and be of average height and build, while conducting alcohol and/or tobacco compliance checks.

5. UB must never have purchased or possessed alcohol or tobacco products illegally, and must commit to not purchasing or possessing alcohol or tobacco products throughout the duration of the project, including court proceedings. It is advisable to complete a motor vehicle and criminal history on each UB prior to the operation.