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Undercover Cops Deter Minors from Purchasing Alcohol
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 16, 2004
COLLEGE PARK - Congressman Steny Hoyer today joined the Century Council, a not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distillers, University of Maryland Public Safety officials, Maryland Highway Safety Office officials, and Mr. Ron Burdoo, owner of Town Hall Liquors, to launch a partnership program called Cops in Shops® at the Town Hall Liquors Store in College Park. The effort is part of a community effort to fight underage purchasing and underage drinking in College Park.
“Though we’ve all worked tirelessly to fight underage drinking, it remains a persistent problem among our youth,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Cops in Shops® is a proven program aimed at deterring and preventing minors from attempting to purchase alcohol. I have worked with the Century Council for many years and am a strong supporter of the work they do, not only in Maryland, but throughout the country.”
The Century Council created Cops in Shops® as a unique partnership between retailers and law enforcement designed to deter youth under 21 from attempting to purchase alcohol and adults who purchase alcohol for minors. The program places undercover officers in participating retail locations. The Community Outreach project involves intensive outreach to all establishments that serve and sell alcohol. It includes training, one-on-one meetings, materials, information and evaluation.
“With students back to school in full swing, there could not be a more opportune time to remind young people that underage drinking is illegal. We are thankful that Congressman Hoyer, Major Dillon from the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety, and many other members of the College Park community joined us to launch Cops in Shops® today,” said Pam Beer on behalf of The Century Council.
“The 2002 Uniform Crime Report states that 283 young people under the age of 18 were arrested for driving under the influence in Maryland,” added Hoyer. “Additionally, 1,246 youths under the age of 18 were arrested for liquor law violations in our state. What’s worse is that 34 youths under the age of 21 were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in Maryland that year. We are here today to reduce these numbers, and, more importantly, to save lives in Maryland.
“I remain committed to continuing to work with the Century Council to raise awareness and education on alcohol abuse and to support a healthy living and learning environment for our young people,” Hoyer concluded.
Participating retail establishments will display signs in their establishments with the message, “Under 21? Police Officers May Be Posing As Store Employees.” Cops in Shops® display materials are provided free-of-charge by The Century Council. In addition to the point-of-sale materials, The Century Council provides “how-to” manuals and organizational assistance. Over 42 states have participated in, or are currently using, the Cops in Shops® program.
Over the last several years, Congressman Hoyer has sponsored Century Council forums throughout the Fifth Congressional District, including a presentation by a young man who was seriously and permanently injured due to a drinking and driving accident and another which utilizes an interactive CD-ROM to take students through a virtual party so they may see the effects of drinking.
The Century Council is a not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distillers, dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. The Century Council promotes responsible decision-making regarding drinking or non-drinking of beverage alcohol and discourages all forms of irresponsible consumption through education, communications, research, law enforcement, and other programs.
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