Consequences From NH's Bootlegging Revenues is too Costly In More Ways Than One
"In 2016, the Health People program initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established a nation-wide objective of no more than 2.1 gallons of alcohol per capita. From 2004 to 2016 average per capita alcohol consumption in the U.S. increased from 2.24 gallons of ethanol per capita to 2.35 gallons."
New Hampshire's reckless response was to open a 33,000 square foot liquor store strategically on the southern border of the state. Now the largest liquor store in the northeast. Well it's high time for NH to now actually wake up and actually drink that pot of coffee. The question now is, is NH's government even actually conscious let alone capable of knowing what their really doing. The state's gallons per capita is 2 times over the ethanol per capita for the entire country. Even though the tax free state now attempt's to place the blame on out of state customer's. Theirs no argument against surmountable evidence against one of many NH government inflicted problems for revenues, that is now causing poor health conditions to continue to grow and exist throughout NH.
The NH Liquor Commission operates 79 state owned stores and will sell wine and liquor but no beer. Sales had totaled $678 million in 2016. The irony of it all is that only $153 million of that actually went right back into Social Services programs that are now requiring even so much more. Liquor is to New Hampshire what gambling is to Vegas.
"In 2012, a special House committee appointed by then-Speaker Bill O’Brien and chaired by Republican state Rep. Lynne Ober produced a report with assistance from an outside law firm that covered some of the same ground as Andru Volinsky.
The law firm’s report includes a statement from Peter Engel, the then-recently retired director of liquor store operations, that he “firmly believed that stores were being used for bootlegging and money laundering,” and that in his view, revisions to an internal policy that were ordered by his superiors at the Liquor Commission in 2011 actually invited structured transactions and put employees at risk."
"Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky wants probe into Liquor Commission's dealing with smugglers, and is calling for an investigation into the New Hampshire Liquor Commission , alleging that the state's liquor stores are engaging in business practices that could “unquestionably facilitate money laundering related to criminal activities.”
Volinsky Had personally witnessed 2 people arrive in a vehicle with New York plates, who allegedly divided a total of $24,000 of Hennessy products into 3 large cash transactions under $10.000 each at the registers.
"In reponse to recent inquiries, the SEA (State Employees Association) has sent a letter to NH State Liquor employees regarding the large volume sales controversies and the potential criminal activity surrounding it. The letter directly addresses that the Commission’s large volume cash sales’ policies are not aligned with IRS requirements and jeopardizes employee and citizen safety. The SEA continues to urge the IRS and the NH Attorney General’s office to conduct an independent investigation that results in effective policy change and training methods."
In 2016, New Hampshire had an average of 87,000 individuals aged 12 or older that had an alcohol use disorder. Lately, people are truly beginning to wonder if the majority of those are only throughout NH's government branches. It would definitely explain allot of the irresponsible poor decisions coming out of the state house and the judicial family courts the past few decades.
Does NH really even give a damn? No. In Fact the NH Liquor Commission just had to build the largest liquor store in the northeast in 2016, to now increase even more illegal activity and state revenue within and on behalf of the state.
"The Internal Revenue Service is investigating two customers of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for potential tax fraud, dropping in on multiple commission locations to collect information, according to an internal email provided to the Monitor.
"Agents for the federal agency visited “NHLC Outlets and Headquarters” in connection with the investigation, James Richards, administrator of Liquor Commission store operations, said in the email.
In the email, sent to all store managers and supervisors, Richards said the agency is interested in the activities of two New York customers: Xiaojun Zheng of Bayside, N.Y., and Juncheng Chen of Flushing, N.Y. He asked that managers collect any documents and information relating to the two people – including transactions, voicemails, text messages, notes and emails – from 2014-18.
Richards asked the stores to collect and prepare the information, calling participation “a priority."
"A liquor commission spokesman declined to comment on the investigation or the email. But a press release from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance said that Juncheng Chen was arrested in December for bringing 757 liters of liquor into the state with the apparent intention of selling it. Chen allegedly bought the alcohol at five different New Hampshire liquor outlets, the release said. A representative for the department was not immediately available by press time."
"A liquor commission spokesman declined to comment on the investigation or the email. But a press release from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance said that Juncheng Chen was arrested in December for bringing 757 liters of liquor into the state with the apparent intention of selling it. Chen allegedly bought the alcohol at five different New Hampshire liquor outlets, the release said. A representative for the department was not immediately available by press time."
"That committee's final report included two anecdotes of out-of-state residents arrested in Massachusetts with large hauls of New Hampshire-purchased booze. One of those arrests included 1,676 bottles of Hennessy, bought at multiple locations. The driver was charged with possessing untaxed liquor and unlawfully transporting liquor.
Liquor enforcement officials in Vermont have made two arrests, one involving an estimated $40,000 worth of New Hampshire-purchased liquor in the back of an SUV, the other with an estimated $28,000 worth. Both suspects were charged with crossing state lines in possession of more than 9 liters of alcohol, Vermont's current legal limit."
"The product that was the most prominent in both of these cases was Hennessy cognac," says Patrick Delaney, Vermont's commissioner of liquor control, who backs increasing the financial penalties for those caught illegally importing large quantities of liquor. He adds that "by using cash, there is obviously no paper trail, if an authority were to investigate it. The activity itself is basically tax evasion."
“From our perspective, this is organized criminal activity,” says Gary Kessler, deputy commissioner at the Vermont Department of Liquor Control."
Chris Sununu once said in his February 15, 2018 State Of The State Address:
Latest statistics are from 2015
In New Hampshire, about 11,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (11.1% of all adolescents) per year in 2013–2014 reported using illicit drugs within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, about 31,000 individuals aged 12–20 (19.5% of all individuals in this age group) per year in 2013–2014 reported binge alcohol use within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010– 2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, about 2 in 3 (66.4%) adolescents aged 12–17 in 2013–2014 perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week—a percentage higher than the national percentage (60.9). The percentage of adolescents aged 12–17 in New Hampshire who perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 82,000 individuals aged 12 or older (7.2% of all individuals in this age group) in 2014–2015 had an alcohol use disorder in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012. In 2016, that number increased to 87,000.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 13,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (13.4% of all adolescents) in 2014– 2015 had experienced an MDE - Major Depression Episode in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of ONLY 5,000 adolescents aged 12–17 with past year MDE (41.2% of all adolescents with past year MDE) from 2011 to 2015 received treatment for their depression in the past year.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 57,000 adults aged 18 or older (5.4% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had SMI - Serious Mental Illness in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 105,000 adults aged 18 or older with AMI - Any Mental Illness (Only 49.3% of all adults with AMI) from 2011 to 2015 received mental health services in the past year.
In 2015, 10,658 children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) were served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system. The annual average percentage of children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) reporting improved functioning from treatment received in the public mental health system was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole. The annual average percentage for adults (aged 18 or older) was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole.
Among adults served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system in 2015, 45.0% of those aged 18–20, 27.1% of those aged 21–64, and 59.5% of those aged 65 or older were not in the labor force.
In 2014–2015, New Hampshire’s annual average percentage of adults aged 18 or older with past year serious thoughts of suicide was higher than the corresponding national annual average percentage.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 52,000 adults aged 18 or older (4.9% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Alcohol Use and Health, 2010–2012 to 2013–2015.
"New Hampshire's regional price parity is 105, so locals pay about 5% more for the things they buy. Housing costs in New Hampshire are high, as is the cost of food, utilities, and transportation. An older study also ranked New Hampshire as one of the most expensive places in the country to raise kids thanks to high costs of childcare and educational expenditures.
Residents may have relatively high median household incomes of $70,303 in New Hampshire, but because things are so much more expensive, this is just about the equivalent of an income of $66,955."
The liquor Commission is an important source of revenue for NH that accounted for 6 percent of the tax free state's general fund in 2017. However, just 3 months after the commission opened a massive 33,000 square foot liquor store in Nashua on September 29, 2016, claiming it will bring an additional $21.5 million in revenue to the state, the commission became $3.2 million short from where they had planned to be according to the state's figures. "the commission declined to comment on the unclear cause of their shortfall in revenue." So is money laundering the reason why NH remains tax free? NH just so happens to be the 3rd largest drug using state in the country also.
"In 2012, a special House committee appointed by then-Speaker Bill O’Brien and chaired by Republican state Rep. Lynne Ober produced a report with assistance from an outside law firm that covered some of the same ground as Andru Volinsky.
The law firm’s report includes a statement from Peter Engel, the then-recently retired director of liquor store operations, that he “firmly believed that stores were being used for bootlegging and money laundering,” and that in his view, revisions to an internal policy that were ordered by his superiors at the Liquor Commission in 2011 actually invited structured transactions and put employees at risk."
"Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky wants probe into Liquor Commission's dealing with smugglers, and is calling for an investigation into the New Hampshire Liquor Commission , alleging that the state's liquor stores are engaging in business practices that could “unquestionably facilitate money laundering related to criminal activities.”
Volinsky Had personally witnessed 2 people arrive in a vehicle with New York plates, who allegedly divided a total of $24,000 of Hennessy products into 3 large cash transactions under $10.000 each at the registers.
"In reponse to recent inquiries, the SEA (State Employees Association) has sent a letter to NH State Liquor employees regarding the large volume sales controversies and the potential criminal activity surrounding it. The letter directly addresses that the Commission’s large volume cash sales’ policies are not aligned with IRS requirements and jeopardizes employee and citizen safety. The SEA continues to urge the IRS and the NH Attorney General’s office to conduct an independent investigation that results in effective policy change and training methods."
In 2016, New Hampshire had an average of 87,000 individuals aged 12 or older that had an alcohol use disorder. Lately, people are truly beginning to wonder if the majority of those are only throughout NH's government branches. It would definitely explain allot of the irresponsible poor decisions coming out of the state house and the judicial family courts the past few decades.
Does NH really even give a damn? No. In Fact the NH Liquor Commission just had to build the largest liquor store in the northeast in 2016, to now increase even more illegal activity and state revenue within and on behalf of the state.
"The Internal Revenue Service is investigating two customers of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for potential tax fraud, dropping in on multiple commission locations to collect information, according to an internal email provided to the Monitor.
"Agents for the federal agency visited “NHLC Outlets and Headquarters” in connection with the investigation, James Richards, administrator of Liquor Commission store operations, said in the email.
In the email, sent to all store managers and supervisors, Richards said the agency is interested in the activities of two New York customers: Xiaojun Zheng of Bayside, N.Y., and Juncheng Chen of Flushing, N.Y. He asked that managers collect any documents and information relating to the two people – including transactions, voicemails, text messages, notes and emails – from 2014-18.
Richards asked the stores to collect and prepare the information, calling participation “a priority."
"A liquor commission spokesman declined to comment on the investigation or the email. But a press release from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance said that Juncheng Chen was arrested in December for bringing 757 liters of liquor into the state with the apparent intention of selling it. Chen allegedly bought the alcohol at five different New Hampshire liquor outlets, the release said. A representative for the department was not immediately available by press time."
"A liquor commission spokesman declined to comment on the investigation or the email. But a press release from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance said that Juncheng Chen was arrested in December for bringing 757 liters of liquor into the state with the apparent intention of selling it. Chen allegedly bought the alcohol at five different New Hampshire liquor outlets, the release said. A representative for the department was not immediately available by press time."
But what’s clear is this: Other states know New Hampshire is a source of alcohol for bootleggers, and they’re willing to cross state borders to try to stop it.
"In fact, in 2012, it was a top GOP lawmaker who called for a special House committee to investigate potential wrongdoing within the Liquor Commission, including how it handles large cash purchases.
"That committee's final report included two anecdotes of out-of-state residents arrested in Massachusetts with large hauls of New Hampshire-purchased booze. One of those arrests included 1,676 bottles of Hennessy, bought at multiple locations. The driver was charged with possessing untaxed liquor and unlawfully transporting liquor.
Liquor enforcement officials in Vermont have made two arrests, one involving an estimated $40,000 worth of New Hampshire-purchased liquor in the back of an SUV, the other with an estimated $28,000 worth. Both suspects were charged with crossing state lines in possession of more than 9 liters of alcohol, Vermont's current legal limit."
"The product that was the most prominent in both of these cases was Hennessy cognac," says Patrick Delaney, Vermont's commissioner of liquor control, who backs increasing the financial penalties for those caught illegally importing large quantities of liquor. He adds that "by using cash, there is obviously no paper trail, if an authority were to investigate it. The activity itself is basically tax evasion."
“From our perspective, this is organized criminal activity,” says Gary Kessler, deputy commissioner at the Vermont Department of Liquor Control."
"Along with New York, court records show Kessler’s agency has also sent investigators to stake out New Hampshire liquor store parking lots in recent months, including in Peterborough and Keene. When the customers crossed back into Vermont with trucks full of booze, they were arrested for violating that state’s liquor laws.
“Clearly, these guys aren’t just randomly deciding that they are going to come up and buy some cases of alcohol,” Kessler says. “They are coming up here with shopping lists, these guys had a notebook, they have the money and the gift cards.”
"These operations by other states are happening without the assistance or knowledge of New Hampshire officials. The New Hampshire Liquor Commission, which oversees 79 retail stores statewide, says it wasn't notified. Neither was the attorney general’s office or New Hampshire State Police."
If government is investigating government involved crime issues such as in this case, which is the NH state owned liquor store chain, you most certainly do not go to a possible criminal and foreworn them before all evidence is collected and the investigation is completed.
If government is investigating government involved crime issues such as in this case, which is the NH state owned liquor store chain, you most certainly do not go to a possible criminal and foreworn them before all evidence is collected and the investigation is completed.
NH government is clearly not being conscious of their surroundings or just are irresponsibly looking the other way and all just for revenues. Which is completely dangerously self serving, recklessly irresponsible, and most importantly, extremely harmful to the state's needs and requirements. I would truly like to know at what cost becomes finally to high of a cost for NH government because clearly it isn't even death by the numbers.
Chris Sununu once said in his February 15, 2018 State Of The State Address:
"As we look back on this past year and recognize our milestones and achievements, we cannot lose sight of New Hampshire's future."
HEALTH BEHAVIOR BEROMETER FOR NH, 2015
Latest statistics are from 2015
In New Hampshire, about 11,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (11.1% of all adolescents) per year in 2013–2014 reported using illicit drugs within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, about 31,000 individuals aged 12–20 (19.5% of all individuals in this age group) per year in 2013–2014 reported binge alcohol use within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010– 2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, about 2 in 3 (66.4%) adolescents aged 12–17 in 2013–2014 perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week—a percentage higher than the national percentage (60.9). The percentage of adolescents aged 12–17 in New Hampshire who perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 82,000 individuals aged 12 or older (7.2% of all individuals in this age group) in 2014–2015 had an alcohol use disorder in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012. In 2016, that number increased to 87,000.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 13,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (13.4% of all adolescents) in 2014– 2015 had experienced an MDE - Major Depression Episode in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of ONLY 5,000 adolescents aged 12–17 with past year MDE (41.2% of all adolescents with past year MDE) from 2011 to 2015 received treatment for their depression in the past year.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 57,000 adults aged 18 or older (5.4% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had SMI - Serious Mental Illness in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 105,000 adults aged 18 or older with AMI - Any Mental Illness (Only 49.3% of all adults with AMI) from 2011 to 2015 received mental health services in the past year.
In 2015, 10,658 children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) were served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system. The annual average percentage of children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) reporting improved functioning from treatment received in the public mental health system was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole. The annual average percentage for adults (aged 18 or older) was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole.
Among adults served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system in 2015, 45.0% of those aged 18–20, 27.1% of those aged 21–64, and 59.5% of those aged 65 or older were not in the labor force.
In 2014–2015, New Hampshire’s annual average percentage of adults aged 18 or older with past year serious thoughts of suicide was higher than the corresponding national annual average percentage.
In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 52,000 adults aged 18 or older (4.9% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Alcohol Use and Health, 2010–2012 to 2013–2015.
"New Hampshire's regional price parity is 105, so locals pay about 5% more for the things they buy. Housing costs in New Hampshire are high, as is the cost of food, utilities, and transportation. An older study also ranked New Hampshire as one of the most expensive places in the country to raise kids thanks to high costs of childcare and educational expenditures.
Residents may have relatively high median household incomes of $70,303 in New Hampshire, but because things are so much more expensive, this is just about the equivalent of an income of $66,955."
The liquor Commission is an important source of revenue for NH that accounted for 6 percent of the tax free state's general fund in 2017. However, just 3 months after the commission opened a massive 33,000 square foot liquor store in Nashua on September 29, 2016, claiming it will bring an additional $21.5 million in revenue to the state, the commission became $3.2 million short from where they had planned to be according to the state's figures. "the commission declined to comment on the unclear cause of their shortfall in revenue." So is money laundering the reason why NH remains tax free? NH just so happens to be the 3rd largest drug using state in the country also.
Since 1984, the federal government has required states to set the legal drinking age at 21, and not just only in order to receive funding for transportation projects and highway repairs, but because statistics began to report around 1,000 fewer fatal crashes per year. Yet NH still remains obsessed with having the most lenient of laws when pertaining to alcohol such as their persistence to lower the drinking age, lessening jail time, fines and penalties, only when it pertains to alcohol, but will once in awhile actually show restraint and their on and off sobriety sometimes, apparently when voting at the state house! When and if the day ever comes, the state's government finally becomes the solution for once instead of just another illegal institutional problem, will become a miracle in itself.
NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Signed by Governor
Lowers the drinking age to twenty years-old. The House amended the bill to instead allow minors to transport alcoholic beverages in a vehicle when accompanied by an expanded list of family members.
Died in Conference Committee
Allows minors to transport alcoholic beverages in a vehicle or boat when accompanied by a stepparent, grandparent, domestic partner, or sibling of legal age.
Signed by Governor
If a person seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing an alcohol overdose, this bill protects the person from prosecution for any charges related to underage drinking, if the evidence for the charge was obtained as a result of the person seeking medical assistance.
HB 1321 (2016)
HB 1321 (2016)
Killed in the House
Allows minors to transport alcoholic beverages in a vehicle or boat when accompanied by a legal age family member.
Killed in the House
Makes some changes to the laws against underage drinking and states, "It is the intention of the general court that minors between the age of 18 and 20 be permitted to consume only beer or wine while in the presence of responsible adults who are over 21 so that younger people will no longer be initiated to alcohol consumption in the absence of adult supervision."
Interim Study
Provides limited immunity for a person who seeks medical assistance for someone who is experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or for themselves.
Killed in the House
Imposes a penalty assessment of $5 or 10%, whichever is greater, on all fines or penalties imposed by a court or the liquor commission for violations to the alcohol beverage laws. (The most common violation is for underage drinking, which carries a minimum fine of $300; the penalty assessment for that would then be $30). The penalty assessments would be divided equally among the Victims’ Assistance Fund, the Special Fund for Domestic Violence Programs, and the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund.
Killed in the House
Decreases the fine for underage drinking from $300 to $100 on first offense and from $600 to $300 on a subsequent offense.
Tabled in the House
Exempts certain individuals under age 21 from the law against unlawful possession (not consumption) of alcohol: individuals possessing alcohol for medical or religious reasons, and individuals between 18 and 21 in a place where alcohol is not sold.
