Department of Liquor Control’s Business Alliance Program Reaches Out to Establishments in Long Branch-Takoma Park

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) today kicked off its latest Business Alliance initiative that reaches out to businesses in the Long Branch-Takoma Park communities in order to help them sell and serve alcohol in a responsible manner and comply with state laws.

DLC’s Business Alliance Program serves as a community-based umbrella organization under which local business owners work with local government to customize and implement comprehensive prevention, education and enforcement programs addressing alcohol abuse, drinking in public and under 21 alcohol use. State-certified alcohol awareness training will be offered in Spanish to 132 servers and sellers.

Other components of the Business Alliance program include the “Extra Eyes” program where trained community members work with area police as part of a collaborative effort to reduce alcohol-related crime. The “Cops in Shops” program is a unique partnership between retailers and law enforcement designed to deter youth under 21 from attempting to purchase alcohol. The program places undercover officers in participating retail locations.

These programs are partially funded through grants from the Maryland State Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Office.

For more information, call Kathie Durbin at 240-777-1917.

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Media Contact: Kathie Durbin, 240-777-1917

Release ID: 09-291
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