The federal government created the Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program to help stop the occurrence of underage drinking, and the Attleboro Police Department in Massachusetts plans to use the grant funds they received from the program to conduct stings to target people who are selling alcohol to those under the age of 21. The periodic stings will consist of undercover officers attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages from those with a license to sell such beverages within the city of Attleboro. The stings will also focus on people who purchase alcohol on behalf of underage people.
According to the Attleboro Police Department, underage drinking can be a deadly problem. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety administration show that one-fourth of the people between ages 15 and 20 who were killed in car accidents in 2010 had BAC levels of .08 or higher, which is violating the Massachusetts DUI laws.
The Attleboro Police Department hopes that by simultaneously conducting alcohol enforcement stings, they will raise people’s vigilance in checking identification from people buying or attempting to buy alcoholic beverages. The department states that its compliance checks will include both on and off-premise operatives.
The penalties for underage drinking and driving, or any drinking and driving for that matter, are severe in Massachusetts. People convicted of DUIs face consequences such as fines, jail sentences, probation sentences and community service. In some cases, they may even be subject to prison sentences or have to have ignition interlock devices installed in their cars to continue driving. The sentencing guidelines may vary depending upon the circumstances surrounding the DUI incidence. People charged with driving while under the influence may want to seek the counsel of a DUI lawyer who may help them negotiate their cases with the prosecution to get them lesser penalties.
