by Lisa Frederiksen
I like to post stories about collaborative efforts to reduce underage drinking. Here is one on a statewide effort by South Carolina. Quoting from News Channel 7 WSPA Staff Report, “Statewide Campaign Blitzes Underage Drinking,” appearing on their website, www2.wspa.com:
An “enforcement and education blitz” coordinated by the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) resulted in an unprecedented number of activities by local law enforcement and prevention teams that focused attention on the dangers of underage alcohol use.
Through the statewide campaign, South Carolina’s Alcohol Enforcement Teams (AETs) helped direct activities aimed at limiting access to alcohol by young people under the age of 21. The increased enforcement and public education efforts promoted a safe end to the school year and a safe prom season. The campaign – called “Out of Their Hands” – emphasized that it is against the law for anyone under 21 to purchase, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages.
The campaign, which ran April 2-11, resulted in:
32 party-dispersal operations (compared to 3 during the same period in 2009);
759 compliance checks (compared to 115 during the same period in 2009);
71 public safety checkpoints (compared to 14 during the same period in 2009); and
95 “shoulder tap” operations (compared to 0 during the same period in 2009).
These various operations led to 452 cases of charges being filed. During the period of April 2-11, 2009, only 125 cases resulted from similar operations.
To read the rest of the article – click here…
