One out of 21 Lake Zurich checked businesses did not refuse to sell alcohol to young adults with identification showing they were younger than 21 years old.

The 2010 compliance checks by the Lake County Underage Drinking Task Force were part of an effort to promote positive practices by stores, specifically during the Homecoming seasons.

The task force sent teens into local businesses in 16 Lake County communities. Eighteen of the 191 businesses checked did not refuse the sales. The checks included 21 Lake Zurich businesses.

"With the concerns we all have about underage drinking, making sure our stores and restaurants are checking IDs is the first line of defense," said Lake Bluff Deputy Chief David Belmonte, who co-chairs the Enforcement Committee of the Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force.  "Our goal is to help promote that message to all our businesses."

The checks are part of an initiative by the Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force, which is sponsored by the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lake County After School Coalition. The task force consists of five committees including enforcement, legislative, resource, communication and research. 

Sale of alcohol to a person younger than 21 years old is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, fine or probation.

"Our desire is to see 100 percent compliance, but it is refreshing to see the majority of businesses realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants" said Mundelein police Chief Raymond Rose, co-chairman of the task force.