PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
South Dakota enacted a zero tolerance law for drivers under age 21 in 1999, and law enforcement officers work aggressively to apprehend impaired drivers. State laws also forbid the attempted purchase of alcohol by underage persons, and the provision of alcohol to persons under age 21. Despite these efforts, a total of 12 youth between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 1999, and underage alcohol consumption continues to be a significant problem.

Results from the Youth at Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) administered in 1997 and 1999 to South Dakota students in ninth through twelfth grades, indicate that the percentage of youth admitting alcohol use increased from 83 percent in 1997, to 86 percent in 1999. Further, those reporting the consumption of more than 5 drinks in the past 30 days increased from 45 percent in 1997, to 46 percent in 1999. Survey data for 1999 also indicate that 27 percent of students had driven a car after drinking alcohol in the past month, and 44 percent reported riding in a car with an impaired driver.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to decrease the number of youth obtaining alcohol, the South Dakota Department of Commerce and Regulation created the Compliance Testing for Underage Alcohol Sales program in 2000. Objectives of the program are to:

• Implement checks at alcohol establishments throughout the state
• Suspend the driver's license of clerks selling alcohol to minors
• Suspend the alcoholic beverage license of establishments violating state laws forbidding the sale of alcohol to minors

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
South Dakota state law allows the Secretary of the Department of Revenue to suspend the alcoholic beverage license of any establishment upon proof of violation of state law or rule by the licensee, its agents or employees. The courts may also suspend the driver's license of a clerk selling alcohol to a minor, for a minimum of 30 days for a first offense, and for a minimum of 60 days on a second offense.

In July 2000, the Department of Commerce and Regulation implemented the Compliance Testing for Underage Alcohol Sales program at alcohol establishments in communities throughout South Dakota. Prior to initiating checks in each community, states attorneys and local law enforcement agencies were contacted. With approval from local officials, all known community establishments were then checked, using agents between the ages of 18 and 20, with a valid South Dakota driver's license. When attempting to make alcohol purchases, youthful agents were instructed to use their own driver's license if the sales clerk requested age-verifying identification.

RESULTS
The Compliance Testing for Underage Alcohol Sales program completed 2,468 compliance checks at South Dakota alcohol establishments from July 2000 to June 2001. Many community establishments were checked twice. Of the total establishments checked, 2,127 passed, and 341 failed, resulting in an 86.18 percent statewide compliance rate.

As a result of the program, over 300 alcohol establishments received a two-week alcoholic beverage license suspension. In addition, the driver's licenses of approximately 100 sales clerks were suspended for 30 days.