LIHUE — Gerald Rapozo was appointed the director of the county Department of Liquor Control in August 2013. The Kauai native is married to the former Divina Galiza and they have four children. Rapozo has worked at Liquor Control
LIHUE — Gerald Rapozo was appointed the director of the county Department of Liquor Control in August 2013. The Kauai native is married to the former Divina Galiza and they have four children.
Rapozo has worked at Liquor Control since 1993 after serving 10 years with the Kauai Police Department. He leads a department of eight employees, including a supervising investigator, four liquor control investigators, the Liquor Commission secretary and a senior clerk.
In addition to providing administrative services for the Liquor Control Commission, Rapozo and his staff investigate complaints and reports of alleged violations, and prepare license applications to assist the commission in its duties and decisions.
TGI: How does one become the director of Liquor Control?
GP: The director of the Department of Liquor Control is appointed by the Liquor Control Commission. The Kauai County Charter states that the director shall have a minimum of five years of business experience, at least three of which shall have been in a responsible administrative capacity.
TGI: What are the biggest challenges with regulating liquor within the county?
GP: Keeping liquor out of the hands of minors and preventing adults from providing liquor to minors. Keeping our field investigators safe.
What are the most common source of complaints and violations?
GP: The department usually receives and investigates loud noise complaints from neighbors of licensed premises and complaints of minors drinking in certain establishments.
TGI: What percentage of violations are unintentional, or based on lack of knowledge and training of bartenders, waitresses, and employees in liquor licensed premises?
GP: I would say that most violations are unintentional and mostly the result of a lack of knowledge or carelessness. All restaurants, bars, hotels and retail stores are required to a have manager on duty who holds a red card or blue card, which means that they passed an exam and are familiar with the rules and regulations of the liquor commission and state liquor laws.
To take the exam, the person needs to be 21 years of age. The problem is that the servers or clerks that are under 21 years of age are unable to take the exam and they are not receiving the training from their employers as should be the case. We offer training to all licensees and their employees upon request whether 21 years or younger.
TGI: What percentage appears to be intentional, or an effort to circumvent a regulation for something they are not permitted to do, to save a permit expense or other process?
GP: What are some of these intentional attempts? I am not aware of any intentional attempts to circumvent any rule or law.
TGI: What does it mean for the department to have police powers to enforce the liquor laws, inspect licensed establishments to ensure compliance with regulations?
GP: Chapter 281 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes empowers liquor control investigators to have police powers only to enforce laws within Chapter 281. Chapter 281 also states that the Liquor Control Commission has the authority to assess fines, suspend or revoke liquor licenses. Liquor control investigators investigate violations of liquor rules and laws that are referred to the commission for adjudication. Liquor investigators cannot assess fines or “shut down establishments.”
TGI: What are the consequences of an island without a Liquor Control office? Is it mostly about protecting a source of tax revenue and preventing illegal sales to minors?
GP: The mission statement of the department are as follows: To protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Kauai County by effectively and fairly enforcing federal and state laws and county liquor rules as they apply to the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The history of Prohibition proved what liquor distribution was without regulation.
TGI: What personal stamp do you hope to put on the office as far as the ability to set your own priorities?
GP: Continue to provide the best service to our licensees and the public and to respond to concerns from the community.
TGI: Who do you partner with to assist your enforcement efforts?
GP: We work with the University of Hawaii Office of Public Health Studies and the Kauai Police Department in conducting compliance checks on liquor licensees. These compliance checks are conducted a few times a year. We also assist KPD, DOCARE and federal agencies when asked for assistance.
TGI: What can the community do to support the mission of your office?
GP: Any information that the public can provide to the department is greatly appreciated. Information regarding underage drinking, stores or bars selling or serving minors, adults providing liquor to minors, etc. will be investigated.
