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AZ.gov Arizona's Official Website Department of Liquor Licenses and Control

Underage Drinking

If you have a concern about an underage person being served, sold, or supplied liquor, please contact the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC) by clicking the link below. The time you take to help to eliminate underage drinking is greatly appreciated.

  • Underage Drinking Hotline 1-877-NOT-LEGL or 1-877-688-5345 All Callers May Remain Anonymous
  • Acceptable Forms of ID
  • Document the IDs Your Staff Has Checked By Using AnID Log

DLLC's Investigations Division must contiuously update operations which eliminate underage drinking to keep up with new forms of fake ID, the introduction of alcoholic energy drinks and other liquor targeted at underage persons, and to locate licensees/adults who supply liquor to people under the age of 21. Currently, the most successful underage drinking operations are:

Covert Underage Buyer (CUB) Program

The Covert Underage Buyer (CUB) program, overseen by DLLC's Investigations Division, began in May of 2003. In an effort to curb alcohol sales and consumption to underage persons, this program provides the resources necessary for DLLC to investigate reported complaints of liquor licensed businesses suspected of one or more underage liquor law violations. Once DLLC has reasonable suspicion that a liquor location may be selling alcohol to underage customers, the agency will send a CUB to attempt to purchase alcohol. Each CUB is nineteen (19) years or younger and is carefully trained to follow state laws and DLLC guidelines. The program has been instituted statewide once CUB training is provided to local law enforcement agencies. Many agencies work with DLLC investigators during the initiation of the program in their area.

Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergency (TRACE) Program

The TRACE (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergency) program began in December 2004. TRACE is a system of effective and rapid communication between local law enforcement, EMS personnel in high-profile cases involving underage drinking. Each TRACE case is concluded when the source of alcohol is traced back to the supplier and the supplier is charged with a criminal and/or administrative violation. TRACE is now statewide with a fulltime investigator available for immediate response to alcohol-related emergencies that involve a person under the age of twenty-one.

Party Crews

DLLC investigators gather intelligence on "party crews", defined as a group assembling in an abandoned (currently or temporarily unoccupied) property, or by taking occupied property by force to engage in private social activities. Fliers and/or text messages announce the event location and time shortly before the party begins.

Firearms and underage drinking are frequently found at these parties. DLLC shares party crew intelligence with local police departments and together they terminate parties, make arrests, and gather further intelligence.

You will find up-to-date statistics on each of these programs by reviewing these two reports.