Police, Girls Inc. team up to prevent underage drinking

LYNN – Lynn Police and members of Girls Inc. conducted a “Shoulder Tap Operation” last Thursday to detect and deter adults from buying alcohol for youth, and all but two adults refused to help.”This effort was a success and should be repeated periodically,” Lynn Police said in a press release. “Alcohol is America’s number one youth drug problem, and it is a crime to buy, deliver, or furnish alcohol for someone under 21 years of age.”A 16-year-old and an 18-year-old girl from Girls Inc., volunteered to stand outside of Mike’s Liquor, Debro Liquors and Sullivan’s Liquor (all of whom had prior notification of the operation) and ask passing adults to buy them alcohol. If the adult said no then the volunteer thanked them and gave them a Mothers Against Drunk Driving “Youth in Action” card. If the adult said yes, the volunteer thanked them and gave them a different card.”The two that considered it noticed Special Investigation Unit detectives when they were given the card and figured out that they could be arrested,” Lynn Police said.The punishment for an adult who purchases alcohol for a minor is a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year or both. This crime is a misdemeanor with a right of arrest, police said.The operation was paid for by a grant awarded to Girls Inc.