New Rochelle Police & New Rochelle Focus Conduct “Four Loko” Alcohol Enforcement Activities

As part of a comprehensive program to reduce youth access to alcohol, New Rochelle FOCUS (Families Organized to Curb the Use of Substances) funded an alcohol enforcement project with the New Rochelle Police Department. During the month of September, the PACT and Special Investigations Units of the New Rochelle Police Department conducted a series of alcohol compliance checks in off premise alcohol retailers (e.g. deli’s, liquor stores, groceries, etc) in the City over a three-week period.

During a compliance check, a person under the age of 21 enters a store and attempts to purchase alcohol using a valid identification that clearly indicates that the person in underage. The goal of the compliance check is to ensure that alcohol outlets are complying with the law to refuse sales to minors.

The compliance checks focused on beer and “Four Loko”, an energy malt liquor that is three times stronger than beer with packaging that resembles Arizona Iced Teas. The Four Loko 24 ounce can is sold in a number of establishments in the City and is popular with teens as it is inexpensive ($2.50 a 24 oz. can) and highly potent; Four Loko contains 12% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) whereas most beers contain between 4 and 5% ABV.

During the three weeks, six out of the thirty-seven establishments (16%) sold alcohol to a minor. Interestingly, when the minors attempted to purchase Four Loko, four* out of the ten locations (40%) sold to the underage youth. To insure that the stores who sold alcohol were now in compliance, follow-up checks were done two weeks later, resulting in 100% compliance. The increase in compliance rates indicates that these checks are an effective means of limiting youth access to alcohol.

The establishments who sold alcohol to minors are as follows: Tostado’s Deli – 241 Union Avenue, Carniceria Jiquilpan Inc. – 322 Webster Avenue, *New Rochelle Deli & Grocery – 476 Main Street, *Sunergy Gas Station – 690 Main Street, *Deli Mart – 671 North Avenue and *Hoots Super Stop – 378 North Avenue.

The following establishments should be commended for not selling alcohol to minors: MJ’s Deli – 51 Church St, Downtown MiniMart – 359 North Ave, La Michoacana – 146 Union Ave, Tejeda Deli – 255 Union Ave, United Gourmet – 398 North Ave, Sunoco Gas Station – 71 Huguenot Ave, Ceasar’s Deli – 375 Main Street, Corner Deli – 743 Main Street, Main Street Deli – 731 Main Street, Antojitos Deli – 611 Main Street, New Roc Deli – 215 North Ave, Second Due Inc. – 750 North Ave, Genesis Food Mart – 342 North Ave, Madaba Deli – 330 Huguenot Street, M&L Groceries – 13 S Division St, 777 Food Mart – 336 Webster Ave, MetroShore News – 575 Main Street, BMK Deli – 703 Main Street, Pitt Stop – 819 Main Street, B2B Motor Aid – 758 Pelham Rd, Marina Deli – 416B Pelham Rd, Loupino’s Deli – 111 Pelham Rd, Food Mart – 123 Pelham Rd, Citgo Gas Station – 210 Webster Ave., Lee’s Delicatessen – 587 North Ave and Goldmoore Deli – 766 North Ave.

Also, during this time, members of the PACT unit conducted “house party patrols” throughout the City on four separate evenings. Three house parties were dispersed and 14 citations were issued. The goal of the house party patrols is to prevent and reduce the incidence of underage drinking in private homes. In addition, two DWI checkpoints were set up on two separate evenings, resulting in the arrest of 3 individuals for DWI.

Youth access to alcohol is either through commercial availability (at stores, bars and restaurants) or social availability (at private homes). “Compliance checks are the number one tool for law enforcement to prevent commercial availability” said Commissioner Carroll, “ and New Rochelle Police will continue to conduct these checks throughout the year.”

For further information visit the NRFOcus.org