How do police liquor law stings work?

by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott:

If you're like me, every time you hear about some local business getting caught in a liquor law or tobacco law sting operation, you wonder, "Just how does that work?"

Now that I've completed Beverage Server Training, I can state that there's probably a reason most businesses don't fight the charges--you have to be REALLY slipping up in order to get a citation.

First of all, says Winneshiek County Sheriff's Deputy Tim Felton, the teenaged volunteers who are used in the sting operations are chosen because they look REALLY young.  If you're 17 years and 11 months old with a full beard and a number of tattoos, it's pretty certain you're not going to get asked to take part in a sting.

Not only are volunteers chosen based on their young looks, but police require the teenagers to not wear jewelry or makeup or anything else that would make them look older.

But here's something I didn't know--the teenagers are required to tell store clerks their real age--IF they get asked that by the clerk.  So basically you'll get in trouble if you don't check IDs and don't check ages. 

Decorah Police officer Scott Hermann says "We're going to catch the people who aren't checking IDs."  In fact, police now have occasionally used hidden video camera--a way to both make sure the teenage volunteers are following instruction and a way to prove to business owners how their employees are responding.

Wednesday: Our series concludes as Paul Scott gets training on spotting a fake ID.