May 16, 2008 09:50 am Derry Police, in cooperation with enforcement agents from the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, recently engaged in a sting operation. The results are disturbing. The targets of the operation, technically referred to as an enforcement action, were 20 retail stores, mostly convenience stores and supermarkets, that sold alcohol. Two young people, a male and a female, both under the age of 21, were recruited to participate in the operation. They were sent into the stores to attempt to purchase alcohol. In six of the 20 stores, or 30 percent, the minors were allowed to make their purchase and leave the store with the alcohol. Even more disturbing is that some of the clerks asked for identification, saw that the buyers were underage, and allowed the purchase anyway. The six clerks who rung up the purchases now face criminal charges for selling alcohol to a minor. The stores could, and should, face sanctions from the state Liquor Commission, ranging from a warning to a suspension of their license to sell alcohol. It should be noted that three of the clerks summonsed to appear in court are 18 years old, well under the legal drinking age, yet old enough to sell alcoholic beverages or serve them in restaurants. In fact, 16-year-olds can sell packaged alcohol legally in New Hampshire. While the six clerks shoulder responsibility for the poor judgement they exhibited, it is clear that the stores in question have not done nearly enough in terms of training and internal enforcement. A check of the police logs in this, or any, edition of the Derry News will find multiple examples of arrests for underage drinking, drunk driving and even minors driving drunk. The problem of alcohol abuse and misuse, particularly among young people in Londonderry, Derry and Chester, remains a major concern. It could be argued that there will always be young people trying to get their hands on alcohol. For some, it is a misguided rite of passage. It is up to the individual business owners to make sure that kids can't get booze at their particular establishment.
Moose don't have fender-benders
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department recently published its annual warning, advising drivers to beware of moose. The lumbering creatures may be delightful to watch, but a collision with one can destroy a car and seriously injure, or even kill, those inside. According to Fish and Game Department statistics, there were 198 moose/vehicle collisions in New Hampshire in 2007. That was actually an off year, because the average has been 230 a year during the last five years. The New Hampshire herd is more than 6,000, and May and June are high-risk months for moose collisions, because the animals are migrating. They also tend to linger near roads to lick up leftover salt. The message is clear — be cautious and aware. The life you save may be your own.
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