Newton Police Department Receives Grant to Combat Underage Drinking

The Newton Police Department was recently awarded a $10,000 grant to help enforce underage drinking laws in the city.

The grant will allow the department to deploy plainclothes officers to various Newton bars, restaurants and retail establishments to monitor the sale of alcohol, the Department said in a press release. 

The grant was funded through the fiscal 2013 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program, which is part of the Office of Public Safety and Security, Office of Grants and Research, Highway Safety Division.

Newton was one of 24 Massachusetts police departments chosen for the grant program, the press release said.

The full press release from the Newton Police Department is included in the .pdf section to the right.

Between now and Sept. 30 of this year, Newton officers will be watching establishments --both inside and out -- for minors purchasing alcohol without proper identification as well as adults purchasing alcohol for minors, the press release said.

Compliance checks will also be conducted at various Newton businesses to make sure establishments selling alcohol check for proper identification.

In addition, officers will patrol areas of the city that have been known to host underage drinking parties, the press release said.

"The Newton Police Department hopes these increased enforcement activities will have a positive impact in reducing the availability of alcohol to minors and the subsequent problems associated with underage drinking," the press release said. 

For more information on the program, contact Detective Captain Paul Anastasia at 617-796- 2126.