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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Police Department completes alcohol
compliance checks
Edina, Minn., July 22, 2004 – The majority of establishments licensed to serve alcohol in Edina passed
alcohol compliance checks completed by the Edina Police Department Tuesday, July 20.
The Edina Police Department checked 36 locations licensed to serve alcohol in Edina. The police discovered one of
the 36 establishments had closed, and another limited its sales to beer and wine at dinner for those staying in its
associated hotel. For the remaining businesses, the police asked two 19-year-olds to serve as “decoys” who entered
the establishments and asked to be served alcohol.
Servers at all locations checked the identification of the decoys, but Big Bowl, California Pizza Kitchen and Marshall
Field’s Lakeshore Grill served the individuals anyway. None of the offending businesses had previous violations in the
past two years, and their fine for being first-time offenders is $500. The servers distributing the alcohol receive
citations.
When the City of Edina performed its first check in 1999, 40 percent of businesses did not comply. The checks
Tuesday had a failure rate of just over 12 percent. However, the goal is always to be perfectly compliant. “Three
[infractions] is actually a small spike up,” said Police Chief Mike Siitari. “When we did compliance checks last
December, we didn’t have any violations.”
City of Edina City of Edina
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Lelan Bosch
Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9537
Fax 952-826-0390
www.cityofedina.com
PRESS RELEASE
• Page 2
Undercover police officers accompany the decoys and stand or sit close enough to witness the exchange between
decoys and servers. In the event that a staff member at one of the locations asks the decoys’ age, the underage
individuals give their actual ages. The decoys are also asked to carry their own legal Minnesota driver’s licenses into
the establishments for identification. Officers advise the servers and managers immediately after an infraction is
made.
The City of Edina has performed alcohol compliance checks twice per year since 1999. The compliance checks are
not “sting operations.” Prior to the checks, the Police Department mails letters to owners and managers announcing
the impending tests. The letter also outlines the markings on drivers licenses that servers should watch for. For
individuals under 21, the Minnesota drivers license states, “Minnesota Driver’s License Under 21,” in white letters on
a black background at the top of the card. At the bottom of the identification, red letters spell out the dates of the
holder’s 18th and 21st birthdays.
For more information on the compliance checks, contact the Edina Police Department, 952-826-1610.
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