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Let’s Stop Normalizing Underage Drinking—And Start Normalizing Responsibility

The recent emergency suspension of a Germantown bar—where more than 100 underage patrons were reportedly present and actively drinking—has stirred concern across our city. Rightfully so. But for many of us working on the front lines of prevention, this isn’t a surprising event. It’s a consequence of what happens when prevention is not prioritized.

At STYC, we’ve seen what happens when underage drinking is dismissed as a rite of passage. And we’ve seen what can happen when a community says “enough.” That’s why, for nearly 10 years, we’ve been conducting compliance checks with local retailers to ensure that alcohol and tobacco aren’t being sold to youth. Our coalition includes youth leaders, parents, law enforcement, and community partners who believe that access to substances should never be this easy—or this common.

These checks aren’t about punishment. They’re about prevention.
They are reminders to businesses that they play a role in the safety of our children. They also help catch problems before they escalate to impaired driving, arrests, or emergency suspensions. We’ve worked with many retailers who welcome the accountability and want to be part of the solution. But we’ve also seen businesses that repeatedly ignore the law—creating environments that attract teens looking for easy access and little consequence.

And that’s part of the problem: the consequences aren’t strong enough.
An emergency shutdown sounds like a big deal, but too often, these establishments reopen under new management or with a different name, while the culture that enabled the violations stays the same. Without lasting accountability or systemic deterrents, the message to others is clear: you might get caught, but the disruption is temporary. Our young people deserve more than temporary fixes.

FIRST OFFENSE FINES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  1. Clerks selling tobacco to a minor                                    $100.00
  2. Vending machine violations                                            $250.00           
  3. Not having a signed statement from the clerk                 $100.00
  4. Not having a warning to a minor sign posted                  $100.00                                                   
  5. Giving free tobacco products to minors                          $1,000.00

To parents: Your concern is valid. You shouldn’t have to wonder which establishments your child might be able to walk into and be served alcohol.


To city officials: Prevention is public safety. Support for compliance efforts must be more than reactive. It must be built into our long-term public health and safety strategies.


To Neighbors across Jefferson County: if it feels like underage drinking has become normalized, that’s because in some places, it has. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

STYC is committed to working with the community, not against it.
We welcome collaboration with businesses, offer educational resources, and involve youth in the solution. Because when young people lead and adults follow through, change happens. Let’s stop being shocked by these headlines and start making sure they don’t happen in the first place.

Our youth deserve better than a loophole culture. They deserve protection, partnership, and a community that values prevention as much as we do enforcement.





   What You Need To Know

  • 21st in Germantown at 1481 S. Shelby St. has been shut down for various violations

  • Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control cited the business for over-service and underage drinking

  • The establishment is closed until further notice




   










































Contributor’s Note: Bonnie Taylor, MSW, LCSW, is a dedicated Mental Health Therapist based in Louisville, KY, specializing in trauma care for youth and adults. With a deep commitment to community well-being, she has been collaborating with STYC for the past two years, offering her expertise and support wherever needed.

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