Annual compliance program to begin this month By Julia Fairclough Underage youth within the next few months will visit Somerville liquor stores and restaurants as part of an annual compliance program, just one part of a multi-tiered initiative that seems to have compelling results.

Since Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) was initiated in 2002, underage drinking has been slowing, according to SCAP surveys. This annual compliance check program is among the many initiatives that SCAP has put into place, which Cory Mashburn, SCAP's executive director, attributes to the decrease in alcohol and drug use among the city's youth.

"We know that alcohol is the number one drug problem facing youth, resulting in more death among young people than all illicit drugs combined," Mashburn said.

According to SCAP's 2009 Youth Risk Behavior surveys (among middle school students), 26 percent of students had consumed alcohol, compared to 30 percent in 2003. Two percent had experienced binge drinking within 30 days of taking the survey in 2009, compared to 4 percent in 2007. Seven percent had smoked marijuana in 2009, compared to 11 percent in 2005. Three percent of students had tried inhalants in 2009, compared to 6.3 percent in 2003.

Frequent oversight of alcohol retails increases compliance with the law that alcohol can't be sold to those under age 21. Through the program-where the window of time runs from March to July-five underage youth from another community visit local liquor stores and restaurants to see who will sell them alcohol. The bars and restaurants are surveyed over the course of one night and liquor stores for two days, Mashburn said.

The good news is that Somerville passes the compliance checks with flying colors. Among the 200 liquor stores and bars in this city, only three sold alcohol to a minor during last year's checks, Mashburn said.

"That's close to a 98 percent compliance rate," he said. "Which is great."

Warren Chaille, a Somerville police officer and investigator for the license committee who works with SCAP on this program, agreed.

"It seems like SCAP's programs are starting to work," he said.

He added that having support from the police chief and the mayor makes it easier for him to do his job and to run the programs. "Somerville has a lot of services in place," he said. "In a lot of municipalities alcohol programs are an area that has been cut, but not here, which is very important."

Throughout the year SCAP and its subgroup, Somerville Positive Forces, conduct other compliance checks that include sticker shock campaigns, shoulder tap surveys, and Public Service Announcements to educate the community about the dangers of substance abuse and alcohol sales to minors.

Underage drinking cost Massachusetts approximately $1.4 billion a year, while accounting for more than $560 million in alcohol sales, or approximately 15% of all alcohol sold in Massachusetts, Mashburn said.