Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws Cops in Shops Program

Beginning in December, local police will be working undercover in bars and liquor stores to identify underage people who order, consume, or purchase alcoholic beverages as well as those who serve or sell to the underage person. Penalties for underage drinking or for purchasing alcohol in a bar, restaurant and liquor store include a fine of between $500-$1,000, and the loss or postponement of driving privileges. Bartenders, sales clerks or waiters who sell alcohol to persons under 21 can be fined $1,000 while the establishment faces administrative penalties including liquor license suspension.

The goal of the Rahway Police Department is to protect our youth from the dangers of alcohol. Underage drinking leads to car crashes, fighting, and other legal issues.  This initiative sends a strong message to both underage drinkers and the establishments that serve them that under-aged drinking will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. Law enforcement officers are working undercover to enforce the state's ABC regulations and criminal statutes.

“Underage drinking and irresponsible alcohol use can tear at the fabric of an entire community and directly impact the quality of life for all New Jerseyans,” Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director Jerry Fischer said. It is our hope through enhanced law enforcement efforts, such as this initiative, and through continued public awareness and education efforts, we can make young people think rationally about the choices they make regarding alcohol use.”

Since its inception in 1996, more than 6,000 underage persons and adults have been arrested as a result of the Cops in Shops initiative. Underage drinkers face penalties that include arrest, a minimum fine of $500 and a loss of driver’s license for six months.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the 42,116 people killed on our nation’s roads in 2001, 17,448 or 41% were alcohol-related. In 2002, 17,970 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which represents approximately 42% of the year’s 42,850 total motor vehicle fatalities.

The Cops in Shops program remains an integral part of the Rahway Police Department’s efforts to enforce the underage drinking laws and other ABC violations.  We are sending a very clear message to youth under 21 – if you're too young to buy, don't even try.

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