NH State Liquor Enforcement

New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s Division of Enforcement and Licensing charged with enforcing the alcoholic beverage control (ABC) laws and administrative rules in the state. The Division also functions as the internal security arm of the NH Liquor Commission including the prevention, investigation and prosecution of internal and external theft, investigation of crimes and accidents occurring on property owned or occupied by the NH Liquor Commission, and investiga¬tion of such other matters as may be assigned by NHLC.
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The Division is divided into two major service areas consisting of the Field Operations Unit and the Administrative Services Unit.

Enforcement (Field Operations Unit):
Division investigators are sworn and certified police officers, vested with statewide authority of arrest for ABC violations as well as any other violation of New Hampshire law. The majority of the Division’s sworn personnel are assigned to the Field Operations Unit which is responsible for conducting the Division’s investigative and enforcement activities.

Common investigative and enforcement activities include:
• Investigations targeting illegal sales of alcohol to minors and Intoxicated persons
• Investigations targeting illegal alcohol purchases by underage persons
• Serious incident/crash investigations with a nexus to sale/service of alcohol
• Investigations targeting illegal gambling at licensed establishments
• Investigations targeting the manufacture, sale, possession of false identification
• Alcohol and tobacco compliance checks (NH had an 88% compliance rate in 2012)
• Tax/financial investigations
• Investigations targeting hidden ownership of licensed establishments
• Controlled dispersal of underage drinking parties
• Special event and liquor store security details
• Theft and fraud investigations involving liquor store assets
• Trade practice investigations
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The Administrative Services Unit consists of the licensing, direct shipping, auditing/tax collection, and education/outreach sections all of which are briefly described below.

Licensing:
The Division’s licensing section assists our business partners in obtaining the appropriate license to sale/serve alcoholic beverages. This section processes license applications and renewals, collects and processes fees associated with licensure, maintains the Divisions’ licensing files and databases and serves as the Division’s licensee support center by providing information and answering requests for information. There are currently over 5,000 licensees and permitted direct shippers.

Auditing/Tax Collection:
The auditing/tax collection section audits licensee recorders and collects the monthly taxes associated with distributors, beverage manufacturers, and brew pubs as prescribed by RSA 178:26. The section collects over $1,000,000 in taxes each month. A total of $12,688,815 in taxes was collect by this section. Examiners from this section conduct physical inspections and audits in the field at the facilities of beverage, wine and liquor manufacturers, rectifiers, licensed carriers, warehouses and on-premise licensees.

Direct Shipping:
The direct shipping section manages the collection and processing of 8% fees paid monthly by more than 1000 permitted direct shippers based on the monthly reporting of shipments of alcohol made directly to New Hampshire residents. The section also conducts comparative audits of the monthly direct shipper reports and licensed carrier reports to verify that all alcohol shipments made into the state have been reported and the appropriate fees have been paid. The average number of direct shipments is 5,424 monthly. The total number of direct shipments into New Hampshire in 2012 was 65,086.

Education/Outreach:
The Division of Enforcement and Licensing is committed to providing superior education and training programs to the holders of liquor licenses, law enforcement personnel, parents, students and the general public. It is through our education and training efforts we move ever closer to achieving the Division’s goals and serving the citizens of New Hampshire. The Division has two civilian training specialists who schedule and facilitate the Division’s education and outreach activities as well as maintain the Division’s website, online training programs, and social media presence. In conjunction with Investigators from the Field Operations Unit and the civilian training specialists deliver alcohol education presentations to state and local law enforcement, state liquor store employees, concerned citizens, management and staff at licensed establishments, middle and high schools, driver’s education students, and colleges covering topics such as:
• Preventing underage consumption
• Responsible beverage service (RBS) programs
• How to properly check ID’s and recognition of fake ID’s
• Responding to underage drinking parties
• Effects and consequences of underage drinking
• Effects and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Promoting awareness of state ABC laws and administrative rules
• Specialized RBS and asset protection/loss prevention training for state liquor store personnel