Ohio Officials Urge Vigilance to Prevent Underage Drinking During Graduation Season

Submitted by WHIZ Intern Maddie Luebkert

ZANESVILLE, OH – With graduation season underway, the Ohio Division of Liquor Control provides recommendations to keep students safe and prevent underage drinking.

The first step in reducing risk is equipping liquor permit holders with strategies to comply with liquor laws. Recommendations from the division include checking all ID’s carefully, training employees to on state liquor laws, and reporting suspicious or potentially illegal activity to authorities.

“You’re going to have, most likely underage individuals out potentially trying to purchase alcohol or consume it, and it really goes back to that permit holder being that first line of defense to ensure that they are checking the IDs, making sure the ID is valid, making sure the purchaser is of age, making sure the purchaser who may be of age is not then turning around and giving that alcohol to someone who is underage to consume,”  Deputy Supt. and Director of Licensing Paul Kulwinski said.

While permit holders should always comply with the liquor laws, the division suggests that permit holders take extra precautions this time of year.

“It’s something we see too frequently at times around that season where underage youth are consuming or or even worse things happen, accidents what have you, and so it’s really just important for those permit holders to do the due diligence sells they really should be doing each day, but just maybe that extra heightened sense of vigilance around that time um you know just again making sure that they’re following Ohio law and selling to those of age to consume,” Kulwinski said.

According to the Division, parents, schools, and communities all share a responsibility in preventing underage drinking and reducing the risk of accidents.

Submitted by WHIZ Intern Maddie Luebkert.