Efforts paying off

Dear Editor:

On July 22, the West Virginia Alcohol & Beverage Control Administration (WVABCA) completed nine compliance checks in Morgan County with local retail establishments that sell alcohol in carry out locations.

During the compliance checks, underage youth attempt to buy alcohol from the local retailer. During the latest check, only two retailers sold alcohol to the minor.

Danny Miller, director of WVABCA, states, “This is a lot better than it has been in the past.” Previous reports have shown that Morgan County’s youth buy rate (80%) is four times greater than the West Virginia average of 19.3%. This makes Morgan County’s youth buy rate the highest in the state.

Miller has attributed this improvement to the collaborative efforts of the WVABCA and the Morgan County Partnership’s prevention efforts on underage drinking.

The CMCA (Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol) Committee is led by Debbie Flowers, prevention specialist for the Morgan County Partnership. Anyone interested in getting involved in preventing underage drinking in Morgan County may call her at 304-258-7807.

Megan Scott
Morgan County Partnership
Berkeley Springs