AZ Dept of Liquor Licenses and Control Performance Audit Highlights

Arizona Department ofLiquor Licensesand ControlREPORT Additional steps needed to improveHIGHLIGHTSPERFORMANCE AUDIT investigationsOur Conclusion Liquor regulation is an important means of inspections each officer is expected toprotecting the public from the dangerous conduct each month, which will alsoResearch shows that active,effects of alcohol misuse. To protect the increase licensees’ awareness of thevisible investigative effortspublic, the Arizona Department of Liquor Department’s presence.and strong enforcementactions when violations are Licenses and Control (Department)Additional actions can improvefound help deter liquor law licenses the manufacturing, distribution,enforcement—The Department can doviolations. The Department and sale of liquor. It issues 17 differentcan increase its more to enhance enforcement efforts. Forlicenses and had about 11,000 activeenforcement presence by example, the Department does not notifylicensees as of April 2009.notifying licensees of the licensees when officers conduct a covertresults of all investigations, Investigative Unit—Statute requires the investigation unless violations are found.including covertDepartment to establish a separate Auditors observed four differentinvestigations, and byinvestigations unit to ensure compliance investigation shifts between Octoberconducting targeted follow-up investigations of problem with state liquor laws. This unit is staffed 2008 and January 2009, and 33 of the ...