Underage Drinking Enforcement Program
The target of this program is underage consumers of alcohol beverages and adults/establishments who provide alcohol to underage persons.
Some examples of enforcement activities are:
- Underage Operatives - underage person attempts to purchase alcohol from vendors
- Shoulder Taps - an underage person under the surveillance of undercover officers approach adults to see if they are willing to purchase alcohol for the minor
- Wolf Packs/Party Patrol - officers patrol remote areas for underage parties where alcohol is present along with responding specifically to party calls received by dispatch
- Surveillance/Parking Lots - officers watch for underage persons attempting to procure alcohol outside a liquor establishment
Some examples of prevention activities are:
- Retailer Education - officers provide educational information on current laws to establishments. Establishments are able to report concerns regarding underage persons, intoxicated persons, and altered identifications
- School-Based Programs - officers educate youth about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and driving at school assemblies, during lunch time activities and/or inside class rooms
A key element to the success of the Underage Taskforce is publicizing underage enforcement and prevention efforts and their results in order to reach a larger population and discourage adults from selling, purchasing and/or providing alcohol to teens while also preventing underage persons from drinking alcohol in the first place which prevents the many negative consequences/effects of underage drinking to include: death, risky sexual behavior, violence, school drop out, delinquency and a future that may include alcoholism.