Dale Mason

Alcohol is leading cause of young deaths, says ABCA supervisor

November 6, 2007

"in the 15- to 25-year-old age group," Dale Mason told Putnam Rotarians today, "alcohol is the leading cause of death.

"And those who take alcohol by age fifteen or earlier are four times more likely to become alcohol dependant," said the Enforcement Agent Supervisor for the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.

Unfortunately, most of the alcohol consumed by people underage comes from family and friends, he told the group.

"Anyone over twenty-one can order a drink," said Mason, "and there's not a thing illegal about it. The violation comes when the person passes the drink over to someone who is underage.

"But many young people will pay $50, $60 -- even $100 -- for a fake identification."

The fine for a false ID is up to $100 and/or up to three days in jail for the frirst offense.

Using a false driver's license may result in loss of license for 60 days on first offense.

Mason told the group about some of his experiences as an enforcement agent. Some bars have sub-cellars to hide underage drinkers. And in some places people even track the enforcement agents by radio to warn ahead of their presence.

As of the end of September, this year, enforcement agents in West Virginia had attempted to purchase alcohol without proper identification at 1.020 locations. They were able to make the purchase 23 percent of the time.

In Putnam County, over the same period, there were 25 attempts to purchase alcohol without peoper ID. The success rate in Putnam was 12 percent.