Retailers and law enforcement officials are teaming up to prevent illegal alcohol sales with a program launched by the Story County Sheriff’s Office.

The program includes all retailers with alcohol licenses in Story County except those in Ames, which already has a similar program conducted by the Ames Police Department, said Story County Sheriff Paul H. Fitzgerald.

He said the program was created to stress the importance of identifying illegal alcohol sales so drunk driving accidents can be prevented before they occur.

“This is a continuation of our efforts to create awareness through enforcement and education in the community,” Fitzgerald said.

Businesses are encouraged to attend one of two alcohol retailing classes, which will be instructed by personnel from the state and county attorneys’ offices.

“They’ll pretty much outline the Iowa Code, especially the part that says it’s the retailer’s responsibility to check IDs,” Fitzgerald said.

“They’ll also learn how to distinguish between false IDs and the new IDs that the Iowa Department of Transportation is coming out with.”

Employees who attend the class will also receive information regarding sanctions they may face personally for failing to comply with state regulations, sanctions they face as retail licensees for failing to comply and how to safely refuse a sale.

Classes will be offered on Monday, April 8 from 3-5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 11 from 7-9 p.m. at the Story County Courthouse in Nevada.

In the past, the Sheriff’s Office has offered a similar class and checked businesses at least once every year.

Fitzgerald said the difference between this program and others is that businesses will be checked on a regular basis.

“It’s basically going to be an on-going thing,” he said. “Our goal is to check businesses at random each month.”

He said he hopes to develop an incentive program in which retailers award and recognize employees who comply with regulations regarding selling alcohol to a minor.

“This is something the retailers also want to be involved in,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re not out there to entrap the businesses. This is a unified effort.”