The Alcohol Cooperating Underage Witness (CUW) Program is a program run by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE). DATE utilizes CUWs for compliance testing to ensure that retailers who sell alcohol are in compliance with state laws prohibiting the sale of these products to persons under the age of 21.

Alcohol CUWs are 17 – 20 years old.

CUWs can be summonsed to appear as a Witness for the Division if a case is scheduled for a hearing in a court or other proceeding.

The goal of the CUW program is compliance. While some arrests may be made as a result of conducting compliance checks, Delaware's goal is to have all of its retailers who sell alcoholic beverages comply with state law.

Upon completion of a mandatory pre-employment training session Alcohol CUWs are eligible to work. When a date for compliance testing has been set, DATE Agents will contact the required CUWs. The Agent will advise the CUW of a particular date and time when they will be conducting compliance checks and confirm their availability.

If the CUW is available to work, an Agent will pick up the CUW at a pre-arranged location.

Prior to the start of an operation, the CUW will be briefed by the Agent on the specific requirements that all CUWs must adhere to while they are conducting compliance checks.

Upon arrival at the location to be tested, the CUW will enter into the establishment with the Agent entering shortly after them. The Agent will then position themselves where they are able to view and observe the CUW, as well as the store clerk.

The CUW will approach the store clerk and attempt to purchase the alcohol as instructed by the Agent.

If asked their age by the store clerk, the CUW MUST state their real age. At no time will a CUW be allowed to lie, mislead, or deceive any store clerk, server or other employees.

At this point, the server will either complete the sale, or deny the sale of the alcohol to the CUW.

After the interaction between the store clerk and the CUW has been completed, the CUW will immediately exit the store. The CUW will then be secured in the Agent's vehicle.

The Agent will then make contact with the Store Clerk and notify the server of the compliance test, or issue a criminal summons if a sale was made.

The Agent and the CUW will then complete a short report about the incident and if a sale was made, the Agent will also take custody of any evidence.

The Agent and the CUW will then proceed to the next location and repeat the process until all of the locations have been checked.

At the conclusion of the operation, the CUW will be returned to the pre-arranged location and the operation will end.

If the CUW is needed as a witness in court or other administrative proceeding at a later date, the Agent will notify the CUW of the date and time that they are needed to testify. The Agent will pick up the CUW from a pre-arranged location and return the CUW to a pre-arranged location after the proceeding has concluded.

The safety of all CUWs is the Division's number one priority.

At no time will an Agent knowingly allow any CUW to become involved in a situation that places the CUW in jeopardy. If a situation should arise, Agents will take immediate custody of the CUW and remove the CUW from the area. Agents are certified police officers and are trained to take the appropriate police action if required.

The Division cannot predict every situation that may arise. While the Division takes reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all CUWs, there is always the potential for an unforseen situation to occur.

Since Alcohol CUWs are volunteers and are not paid for their service, they do NOT receive any form of insurance coverage or compensation while volunteering as an Alcohol CUW.

However, Alcohol CUWs, while traveling in a State of Delaware vehicle, are covered by the State of Delaware's Auto Collision Coverage.

1. CUWs must be 17 to 20 years of age.
2. CUWs must have either a valid driver's license or valid state issued ID (from any state).
3. CUWs must agree to be photographed and to sign the Alcohol CUW Program Release Form.
4. CUWs will be required to adhere to all Division CUW policies during the operation. All CUWs will be briefed on these policies by an Agent, prior to the start of an Alcohol CUW operation.
5. CUWs must appear by a reasonable person's standard to be under 21 years of age. All CUWs must follow a strict dress code which includes the requirement that males may not have facial hair and females may not wear excessive amounts of make-up.