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Nearly one-third of inspected businesses in Montgomery County sold alcohol to someone under 21 in fiscal 2009, according to a report released last week by the county's Department of Liquor Control.

About 20 percent of businesses did the same in fiscal 2008, the report shows.

However, Kathie Durbin, division chief at the department, attributes the rise to more thorough inspections.

"We did see an increase," she said. "But, that was basically because everyone was checked."

The county has about 920 businesses with liquor licenses.

Between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 each of those businesses, any new businesses and some businesses with previous complaints filed against them were inspected, said Emily DeTitta, outreach manager for the Department of Liquor Control.

A total of 1,212 inspections were completed in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009.

Prior to fiscal 2008 it was not guaranteed that all county businesses with a liquor license would be checked in a two-year span, Durbin said.

The department has committed to inspecting each business at least once every two years moving forward, she said.

Durbin said she hopes the new system of cooperation and more regulated inspections will provide more reliable data on the number of businesses selling to those who are underage.

Now, inspectors perform the checks with police — working with a teenager, who attempts to purchase alcohol.

An individual who sells alcohol to someone underage receives a criminal citation, and the business is given an administrative citation from the Department of Liquor Control and fined $1,000 for a first offense, Durbin said.

The county provides free training and other resources to educate businesses about alcohol sales, she said.

"A lot of businesses don't even know how to read an ID," Durbin said.

Caroline Cash, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Maryland, said it's important for businesses to understand the law and train employees to follow it.

"It's up to all of us to work together to save these young lives," she said.

For the past several years, the Department of Liquor Control also has distributed free calendars to each business with a liquor license to help clerks recognize when someone is underage. An ID checking guide attached to each calendar reads, "If you were not born on or before today's date in 1989 you cannot buy alcohol." 

It also features reminders such as license renewal deadlines and service hour changes, monthly safety tips, and other information.

"We don't want to just test them," Durbin said. "We want to educate them as well."

On Monday, the department also announced a new monthly feature in its SAFEnet electronic newsletter called "Students Keeping it Safe," according to a news release.

SAFEnet is a monthly newsletter geared toward educating parents on youth alcohol prevention and contains information on under-21 alcohol use.

"Students Keeping it Safe" will honor a student, or small group of students, who are making a positive impact on the local community, the release states.

The January 2010 issue features the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) group at Clarksburg High School.