Police Plan Underage Alcohol Stings

The Attleboro Police Department will conduct periodic stings to target those who are selling alcohol to people under 21, according to a department press release. The stings are funded by a $9,990 grant from the federal government's Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program.

"The underage operatives will attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages from license holders within the city of Attleboro," the department says. "Compliance checks will include both off- and on-premise licensees. The department will simultaneously conduct alcohol enforcement directed toward identifying underage persons buying or attempting to buy alcoholic beverage. This enforcement also targets persons who purchase alcohol beverages on behalf of underage persons."

The department says alcoholic beverage license holders must be vigilant in verifying customers' ages by requiring them to show identification.

"Likewise, an effective underage drinking prevention strategy must also consist of operations targeted at youth access to alcohol in the community," the department says. "Through consistent enforcement and education, alcohol retailers will understand the importance of routinely and properly verifying age of those seeking purchase of alcoholic beverages."

Underage drinking can be a deadly problem, the department says. It cites statistics from the Centers for Disease Control that alcohol use is a principal factor in the three leading causes of death among youth (unintentional injury, suicide and homicide) and from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that 25 percent of people ages 15 to 20 killed in automobile crashes in 2010 had a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher.