Far more bars and restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii served alcohol to minors in recent sting operations than had in 2006, the Honolulu Advertiser reported July 10.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission said that 47 percent of licensed establishments sold alcohol to minors in 2007, up from 35 percent in 2006. The commission sent college students under age 21 into bars and restaurants to attempt to make purchases. Many servers didn't ask for ID, but even some that did ask served alcohol to those under age 21, anyway.

"These figures are very high," said Dewey Kim Jr., liquor commission administrator. The agency has recently increased enforcement and outreach, including a 24-hour hotline for complaints about liquor establishments. The commission also is planning a new enforcement initiative aimed at known offenders.

"I think even more education is needed and we probably need to work closer with those establishments and really make sure they're training their servers," said Valerie Mariano of the Hawaii Attorney General's office.