(Columbus) –With St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness and parties on college campuses, agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit offer the following reminders to ensure Ohioans are celebrating responsibly.
For liquor establishments:
- Ensure you are properly checking identifications to verify your customers are in fact 21 or older.
- Offer customers non-alcoholic beverages and food options.
- Do not serve anyone who is intoxicated and make sure your staff is communicating with one another.
- Watch for anyone attempting to tamper with drinks.
- If you’re planning on having a large crowd, invest in properly licensed security guards to help oversee the day’s operations.
- Offer alternative modes of transportation home.
College parties –hosts/organizers:
- Ensure everyone drinking alcohol at your party is 21 or older.
- If you feel your party is out of hand, close it down or contact law enforcement.
- It’s your party, it’s your responsibility to ensure no one under 21 is drinking, and to minimize any potential issues such as sexual or physical assaults.
- If someone leaves your party and is involved in a crash or an assault, you may be held both criminally and civilly liable.
Patrons or party guests:
- Plan on having someone who has not been drinking drive or make arrangements to have an alternative mode of transportation home.
- If you’re not 21, do not drink.
- Drink tampering happens. If you lose sight of your drink, get a new one. Watch for suspicious behavior and also make sure you and your friends leave together.
- Do not furnish alcohol to anyone you know or suspect is not 21.
Contact OIU at #677 if you know of establishments selling or providing alcohol to anyone who is under 21 or who may be intoxicated.