Liquor inspector describes duties

For four Middlebury College students living at Quarry Road, October 30 is a day that will live in infamy. The day marked the first, though to the dismay of some, not the last, time the Vermont liquor inspector would take action against collegiate underage drinking.

That night the Vermont liquor inspector, in conjunction with the Middlebury Police Department and members of the Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team, broke up a party at Quarry Road where underage drinking was occurring. Sixteen students were cited for underage drinking, while four of the residents of the house were charged with serving alcohol to minors.

Pete Smith ’10, a Quarry Road resident, finds the liquor inspector’s continued presence on campus and methods of prosecution questionable.

“He knew a party was occurring because he went to Middlebury [Discount] Beverage and checked their log book,” Smith explained in an e-mail.

“He saw the name of a student who had taken out kegs. He took the name to Public Safety and looked up the address — again, in compliance with the law and his jurisdiction. He then waited in the driveway for a student to come outside and he ID’d him. I think ultimately he overstepped his authority boundary, and he play[ed] the intimidation card.”

This week, The Campus investigates the rumors and realities surrounding the liquor inspector after he again graced campus during Winter Carnival.

He seems to many to be the amorphous “Big Brother” of the Middlebury social scene, bent on persecuting students for their weekly nights of inebriation.

“He’s a fun ruiner,” joked Alice Ford ’10.

“He ruins fun.”

Jack Maher ’12 wondered about the necessity of the liquor inspector rumored visits.

“I’ve never seen him but he should stop creepin’,” he said.

“The College does enough already to manage the party scene.”

A flurry of rumors surrounded the liquor inspector’s Winter Carnival appearance. Purportedly, minors in the liquor inspector’s employ would arrive at campus parties so that the liquor inspector could then implicate the party hosts for enabling underage drinking.

“I heard he had underage college kids that were going to come into the house and try to drink, then bust whoever’s house it was,” said Courtney Mazzei ’11.

Addison County liquor inspector Michael Davidson denied the action, but allowed that the liquor inspector could always use such tactics in the future.

“That didn’t happen, I can tell you that,” he said.

“Could it? Technically, sure. But did it? No. We use any tactic at our means. We just don’t rule out anything … If they’re not doing anything wrong there’s nothing to worry about.”

Rumors regarding the liquor inspector’s ability to enter and search student rooms have ultimately proven false. For that, the liquor inspector would need a warrant.

“No one’s going and kicking in doors to private rooms,” Davidson said. “When there are civil and criminal offenses taking place, that’s what we prosecute.”

“We have no authority in the dormitory, and if any of our officers went in there they’d be in trouble for doing it,” Vermont Dept of Liquor Control Commissioner Michael Hogan agreed.

“The campus is no different from any other entities in the state of Vermont,” said Davidson. “It’s not a sanctuary.”

The liquor inspector, however, isn’t just a fun-buster — the position’s primary focus lies in regulating licensed establishments that serve alcohol.

“Our main focus is with Title Seven (alcohol beverage statutes) and so we’re worried about institutions on campus that over-serve somebody to the point of intoxication,” Hogan said.

Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah, however, noted that the inspector does have authority to cite students for “internal possession” of alcohol on campus.

“If I see someone going in and it’s obvious they’re young and intoxicated, there are laws that give me the right to identify them,” Davidson said.

The liquor inspector in fact possesses the same powers as the Vermont state police.

“They’re certified law enforcement officials and they can arrest anybody,” said Hogan.

Vermont statuates mandate that if underage drinking is taking place, law enforcement officials must take action. This seems to imply that when Public Safety discriminates in giving citations it is breaking the law. In fact, however, Public Safety is merely acting within its role as a non-law enforcement agency.

“Even though we want to uphold the law, we don’t have the power to enforce the law,” Boudah said.

“Our way of holding people responsible is through our student judicial system,” not legal action.

Despite differing enforcement methods, both Public Safety and the liquor inspector theoretically work towards maintaining a safe environment.

“The colleges in the state do pretty well—they’re aware of the liabilities and they do their best,” said Hogan. “It’s not an easy job, being an administrator.”

It’s hard for both organizations, however, to reduce student drinking, and no one is certain whether the liquor inspector’s presence on campus actually helps.

“I do think they have an effect [on Middlebury students], but I’m not sure if [the liquor inspector] helped” curb binge drinking, Boudah said.

President Emeritus and the College’s resident liquor policy activist John McCardell expressed similar concerns about the effect the inspector’s visits have had on campus safety.

“Has alcohol consumption been reduced? Or is it being forced into more clandestine locations? And if the latter, can we say that enforcement is effective,” McCardell wrote in an e-mail.

Smith even wondered if safety is truly the inspector’s primary concern.

“I think overall he has instilled a sense of fear of throwing large parties,” he said.

“In lengthy conversations I have had with the inspector who oversees Middlebury, not once has the word ‘safety’ been mentioned.”

Inspector Davidson virulently disagrees.

“As a state entity, our primary goal is for public safety,” he said. “What we’re motivated to do by enforcing the regulations is to encourage and support [safe behavior], so that’s our goal.”