Boulder BLA hears police fake‑ID statistics, RAR trainer certification issue and Waffle Lab monthly update

At its Dec. 18 meeting, the Beverage Licensing Authority heard three administrative updates: a police briefing on fake IDs and alcohol‑related calls, a report from the Responsible Association of Retailers (RAR) about trainer certification delays with the state, and a monthly status report from Waffle Lab Boulder LLC.

Police briefing: Officer Lee Arek of the Boulder Police Department told the board the department has collected about 1,700 fake IDs to date; of the processed IDs, about 721 belonged to University of Colorado students and 254 were non‑CU students. Officer Arek said officers continue to write second‑, third‑ and fourth‑degree violation notices related to fake IDs, and described a week of watch‑log calls that included 14 alcohol‑related calls (DUIs, domestic incidents and an assault where a patron was assaulted after being refused service). Arek also told the board the department is creating a multi‑agency liquor enforcement group that will include officers from Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and the state to coordinate liquor‑enforcement work in the region. Officer Arek said the BPD is working on ways to provide last‑drink and alcohol‑call data for future reports to the board.

RAR trainer certification: Mandy Bolt, interim contact for the Responsible Association of Retailers (RAR), said she is certified as a TIPS and ServSafe trainer but that the state Liquor Enforcement Division (LED) has not yet approved her application. Licensing manager Kristen Changaris told the board that under the BLA’s rules of procedure, the city will accept only training classes that are approved by the state LED; if a trainer is not on the state‑approved list, the board would have to consider whether to amend its rules. The BLA members present said they will treat unapproved training on a case‑by‑case basis while awaiting the full authority and recommended that RAR keep licensees informed.

Waffle Lab monthly report: Ashley of Waffle Lab reported the establishment has confiscated and turned in 23 IDs since the last report, and said a scanner and a recent cover‑charge policy have helped staff identify fraudulent IDs (for example, when the credit‑card name does not match the ID). Ashley said the business will close over the holiday break and intends to reopen around Jan. 4; staff agreed to accept an email notifying licensing staff once an exact reopening date is set. Licensing staff confirmed the Waffle Lab monthly check‑in requirement was three months and that Dec. was the final monthly check‑in.

Ending: Licensing staff will follow up with RAR and Mandy Bolt about state approval status, continue coordinating with BPD on future data reports, and confirm Waffle Lab’s reopening date when provided by the business.