Beverly Police Alcohol, Cannabis Compliance Checks Start Next Month

BEVERLY, MA — All Beverly bars, restaurants with alcohol licenses and cannabis dispensaries will be subject to compliance checks starting in September through the end of the year.

Beverly police said the compliance checks will include an underage buyer without valid identification attempting to purchase an alcohol beverage or cannabis product. Business owners are urged to take this chance to ensure employees are familiar with how to properly check I.D.s and to make sure that only those legally able to purchase alcohol or marijuana have access to the products on premises.

Beverly police will also monitor licensed establishments for underage activity and work with establishments to deter underage customers.

Licensed establishments found in violation may be requested to appear before the City of Beverly Licensing Board.

"Ultimately, the end goal of all of these checks is not to bring punitive actions against businesses, but to keep otherwise legal substances out of the hands of those not yet old enough to legally consume them," Police said.

Businesses can contact Lt. Michael A Backstrom at mbackstrom@beverlyma.gov with any questions.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)