"Cops in Shops," Party Patrols, and Compliance Checks in North Andover

The North Andover Police Department was recently awarded a grant to combat underage drinking, and will begin using the grant money this weekend.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided $505,000 in funding to 71 Massachusetts communities.

Funds support compliance checks for minors in bars, restaurants and retail locations; reverse stings and “Cops in Shops” programs; “shoulder tap” solicitations; surveillance patrols; and party patrols.

Through a combination of these techniques, departments analyze and crack down on minors who seek to circumvent the law and people and businesses that enable them. Over the past three years, activities under this grant have resulted in 485 youth citations and 340 arrests. Citations were also issued to 413 adults, and 352 adult arrests were made across the Commonwealth.

Although it’s illegal in all 50 States for youth under age 21 to buy or drink alcohol, NHTSA reports that nationally in 2012, 28 percent of the underage drivers who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of .01 or higher.

Progress has been made in Massachusetts over the last several years. Violations for underage drinking decreased 41.5 percent from 2007 to 2011 and arrests of drivers under 18 for operating under the influence decreased 45.4 percent from 2006 to 2010.