New underage drinking prevention program aims to educate business owners and adults

By Staff Writer

Underage drinking is a problem for many teens, parents, law enforcement and educators. However, some government officials are now fighting back to prevent this occurrence by funding initiatives to catch those who provide the alcohol.

For instance, city officials from Petaluma, California recently announced a grant to help the local police department combat underage drinking, the Press Democrat reports.

The $7,500 grant will help fund the Shoulder Tap initiative, which will use minors to see whether adults will purchase alcohol for them. Furthermore, teens and young adults will be sent into local businesses to see if they will provide them with alcohol.

Law enforcement officials told the news source that 70 minors were cited for public intoxication, and another 95 teens for possessing alcohol.

The grant will also help the police department to provide at least one training class to those who hold a liquor license. These courses are designed to educate business owners about alcohol responsibility and the law.

According to the 2009 Monitoring the Future survey, approximately 44 percent of high school seniors consumed alcohol in the 30 days leading up to the study.