Oklahoma Businesses Don't Reliably Check ID When Selling Alcohol, According To New Report

The Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission (ABLE) says businesses aren't checking IDS.

After a three-month investigation, the ABLE Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Health have released the results. Health officials say their goal is to stop alcohol from getting into the hands of minors.

"Through proactive education and enforcement we can attack this public safety issue," said Brandon Clabes with the ABLE Commission.

To conduct the survey, the ABLE commission did random compliance checks around the state. Minors are sent into stores and restaurants to attempt to buy alcohol.

The study found bars and restaurants were the least compliant, only asking for a valid ID 59 percent of the time.

Results from the study also show clerks or servers who did not ask for the youth buyer’s ID sold alcohol in nearly 94 percent of purchase attempts.

The compliance rate of alcohol sales to underage buyers was 59 percent at restaurants and 83 percent at grocery or convenience stores which was the highest compliance rate.

Health officials say the state can do better and that combating the problem that starts with education.

"That's what we’re encouraging our businesses to do is check IDs, compliance is key for us and we don't want to do the enforcement side we want to do the education side but if we do have to enforce we will," said Clabes.

The survey is conducted every other year and is focused statewide. ABLE requires anyone selling alcohol in restaurants, bars, or stores to go through their training program.