Office of the Attorney General
John J. Farmer, Jr., Attorney General
Jerry Fischer, Director
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 18, 2001 | FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maureen Sczpanski (609) 984-2529 |
Kickoff of Summer '01 Initiatives
to Combat Underage Drinking |
WHO: | Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director Jerry Fischer;
Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Colonel Peter J. O'Hagan;
Ocean County Prosecutor E. David Millard;
New Jersey State Police Major Frank Simonetta;
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Chairman Joseph P. Miele;
Century Council Director of Programs Gary Decker;
Law enforcement officials from the State Police ABC Enforcement Unit, Pt. Pleasant Beach Police Department and shore towns participating in the Cops in Shops program;
Representatives from the licensed beverage industry, as well as local, county, and state
government officials. | WHAT: | State officials will announce efforts underway this summer to deter underage drinking throughout shore resort areas in New Jersey. Efforts include the Cops in Shops program, an initiative developed by The Century Council, in which undercover local police officers join with members of the alcoholic beverage industry to prevent underage drinking and to apprehend adults who purchase alcohol for young people. A second effort, Operation Summer, puts State Police ABC Enforcement Unit Troopers undercover in bars throughout the shore area in a further effort to combat underage drinking. An update on the number of arrests made during the past month, since Operation Summer began, will be provided. Additionally, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, in cooperation with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, will play a 30-second television public service announcement (PSA) and a 60-second radio PSA designed to inform young people both about the potential dangers of underage drinking, as well as the serious penalties youth can face if they drink. Copies of the TV PSA will be available. Continuing efforts to deter drunk driving and drug use in shore towns will also be discussed. | WHEN: | Tuesday, June 19, beginning at 1:30 p.m. | WHERE: | The Pt. Pleasant Beach Boardwalk, at the base of Arnold Ave., directly in front of the Police Mini-Station. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Pt. Pleasant Beach Municipal Building, second floor court room, located at 416 New Jersey Avenue. | | | # # # |
