The Keokuk Police Department, in partnership with The Best You Coalition, strives to educate local retailers on best practice concerning alcohol sales. The Best You Coalition has emphasized prevention, by providing Merchant Alcohol Training, signs, guides, and other information to local businesses, free of charge.
The Keokuk Police Department will be conducting alcohol compliance checks at local business within the next thirty days. The checks will consist of underage buyers entering local businesses to try to purchase alcoholic beverages. They will be working with the Keokuk Police Department.
Any merchant caught selling to underage buyers will immediately be cited and referred to the Lee County Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. Penalties for a licensee selling alcohol to an underage person will result in a $1925 fine. Individual employees can expect to cough up $645 for making the transaction. Businesses found in violation of Iowa’s alcohol laws will be referred to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for administrative action.
For more information regarding Merchant Alcohol Training, please contact The Best You Coalition at 319 293 2579.