Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Detective Sergeant Arthur Brillon Telephone: 774-203-1881
Date: November 25, 2014
Chief Kyle Heagney has announced that the Attleboro Police Department is once again the recipient of funding for underage drinking enforcement activities. This program began on October 1st, 2014 when the Attleboro Police Department was awarded $10,000.00 in grant funding as part of the 2015 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program.
The funding is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was awarded to Massachusetts for distribution through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD). The program which will run through September 2015 will be conducted in three phases. The program will include “Cops in Shops”, “Undercover Surveillance Patrols” and “Compliance Checks”.
During the “Cops in Shops” phase, undercover police officers are present inside the business to monitor persons under 21 attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages.
During the Surveillance phase, officers conduct undercover surveillance of establishments in an effort to identify persons over age 21 attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages for persons under age 21.
During the Compliance phase, the Attleboro Police Department will utilize operatives less than 21 years of age who will attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages from license holders within the City of Attleboro. The “Compliance Checks” will include both off and on premise licensees.
Through consistent enforcement and education, alcohol retailers will understand the importance of routinely and properly verifying age of those seeking purchase of alcoholic beverages. The Attleboro Police Department recognizes the need to monitor and educate all alcoholic beverage license holders regarding the dangers of underage drinking.
Through education and aggressive enforcement, persons under 21 buying alcoholic beverages or attempting to buy alcoholic beverages will be identified and charged according to the law. Persons purchasing alcoholic beverages for persons under 21 will also be identified and charged accordingly. Persons committing such acts could face arrest.
According to the Center for Disease Control, alcohol use is a principle factor in the three leading causes of death among youth, those being, unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle crashes and drowning incidents), suicides and homicides. Although much progress has been made in the last two decades, alcohol-related crashes are still too common among young people. According to NHTSA statistics, in 2010, nationwide, 30% of 15- to 20-year-olds killed in automobile crashes had a blood alcohol content of .01 or higher; 25% had a BAC of .08 or higher. Compounding the problem, 71% of the young drivers who had been drinking and were killed in crashes were unrestrained.
