Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office complete alcohol compliance checks

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office completed a countywide alcohol compliance check campaign. Compliance checks were conducted at taverns and other alcohol vendors throughout Fond du Lac County over the course of approximately three months, and these checks occurred after a series of educational sessions, print and radio notices training retailers and notifying them of the upcoming checks. The Sheriff’s Office partnered with Fond du Lac County United Way Drug Free Communities to complete the educational material and conduct the checks. Both organizations share the number one priority of education and safety for the community surrounding alcohol landing in the hands of underage persons.

Prior to the compliance checks beginning, a notification letter was sent to all alcohol vendors advising them of the upcoming checks. Representatives from United Way Drug Free Communities also presented an educational program at the January meeting of the Fond du Lac County Tavern League. During that meeting, United Way Drug Free Communities discussed the use of ID scanners and reminded businesses that scanners can be provided free of charge for interested establishments through the Fond du Lac County United Way.

The Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Fond du Lac County Public Health, also presented an educational session in November 2025 at an alcohol and tobacco retailer training hosted at the Fond du Lac County Highway Department. During that training, compliance checks and common state laws and ordinances related to the sale of alcohol were discussed.

Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office also participated in a radio interview to discuss alcohol compliance checks and inform the public that checks would be conducted.

During the compliance checks, the Sheriff’s Office used adults under the age of 21 who attempted to purchase alcohol at licensed establishments. These individuals were accompanied by an adult witness over the age of 21 to ensure the validity of each compliance check.

Strict criteria are followed during each check. The underage participants carry their valid state-issued identification clearly indicating in bold letters their birthdate and “Under 21 Until” date. The identification card for everyone under the age of 21 is printed vertically, as opposed to horizontally for those over 21, making is very easy for sellers to identify an underage person. Bold red and blue print “U21 – Wisconsin” reads across the top of the ID, further drawing attention to the fact the participant is under 21. The underage participant is instructed not to lie or be deceptive in any way. If asked their age or whether they are 21 or older, they must answer all questions honestly. No fake identification is used. Male participants are required to shave any facial hair to maintain the appearance of a younger individual who needs to have age verification prior to sale.

Over the course of the past three months, 42 businesses were checked. Of those 42 businesses, 13 did not pass the compliance checks. Ten of the businesses failed to check identification, while three businesses checked the identification but still sold alcohol to the underage individual.

Compliance checks remain an important tool in ensuring the safety of our community members by keeping alcohol out of the hands of juveniles and individuals under the age of 21, and out of our schools. Underage alcohol consumption continues to be a contributing factor in injury and sometimes fatal crashes in Fond du Lac County each year. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to keeping our youth safe from the risks of underage alcohol purchases and consumption, with the ultimate goal of eliminating preventable injuries and death.