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BEST ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM

Montana Alcoholic Beverage Control Division

“ We didn ’ t really train law enforcement on liquor laws , so they didn ’ t know what they could enforce and how ,” she

BY HILLARY RICHARD

says . “ We have 56 sheriff offices and we weren ’ t doing anything to educate them .”

Improving ( and in many ways , starting ) the education process was a multi-tiered , ongoing task for Scates , the Alcohol Education Coordinator . One of her main missions was to try to change the focus of law enforcement when it comes to alcohol violations across the vast state .

“ Only 35 % of youths are getting their alcohol from a retail establishment , yet [ underage drinking ] is where we put all of our time , money and resources ,” she says . “ We have a huge problem

with over-service and that ’ s what ’ s killing people on our roads . People will drive 50 miles to get to a bar , drink , then drive 50 miles back home . We need to send them a message .”

Scates adds that when alcohol abuse is present , all crimes and accidents go up – like sexual assault , animal abuse , slips and falls , domestic abuse – so her aim was to get people to understand this waterfall effect .

There were a lot of moving parts involved in promoting alcohol enforcement education over the years . The ABCD de-

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