ICYMI: Milford PD Gets Funds to Catch Underage Drinking Activity, Making Compliance Checks in May

MILFORD, MA — With a grant awarded to Milford, the police department will be able to combat underage drinking by operating compliance checks in bars, restaurants and package stores and other tactics to curb the abuse.

The department was recently awarded a $5000 grant from The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is providing providing $490,960.53 in funding to 72 Massachusetts communities on a competitive basis with awards ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.

“There are many tools to combat underage drinking, and this grant provides much needed funding to target the problem,” said Lt. James Falvey in a statement. “Whether you are underage, plan to sell to a minor, or buy alcohol for a minor, we will be on the lookout.”

In addition to compliance checks, police will use the grant to perform reserve stings and "Cops and Shops" programs, "shoulder tap" solicitations, surveillance patrols and party patrols. Some of these programs such as compliance checks will be conducted during the month of May 2016.

Over the past three years, activities under this grant have resulted in 917 youth citations and 377 arrests. Citations were also issued to 574 adults, and 249 adult arrests were made across the Commonwealth.

“Teens and parents need to be reminded that underage drinking is deadly serious,” said Lt. James Falvey in a press release. “Parents need to know that hosting a party where alcohol is served to minors is both illegal and extremely dangerous for the minors, for others in the community, and for the parents themselves, given the legal liabilities they face.”

In addition officers in Milford frequently check many local outdoor areas such as the quarries for underage drinkers.

According to NHTSA, in 2013, 29 percent of young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .01 or higher. Of those young drivers who had tested positive for alcohol, 82% of them had BACs of .08 or higher. NHTSA estimates that minimum drinking-age laws (21 years old) have saved 29,834 lives nationwide since 1975.