Columbia, SC – To combat the dangers of underage drinking, LRADAC is teaming up with the 5th & 11th Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team (AET) and Crimestoppers in a new campaign to prevent underage drinking, underage buys and irresponsible or illegal beverage service which includes hosting.
Alcohol is the most widely misused substance among South Carolina’s youth. Consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21, known as underage drinking, poses a serious threat to adolescent development and health.
The months of April and May are a relatively high-risk time for youth and substance use surrounding prom and graduation. LRADAC and Crimestoppers are preparing for this more dangerous time of year by implementing the Report Underage Drinking campaign. The campaign is designed to provide the public with a way to anonymously alert law enforcement about the underage purchasing or consumption of alcohol with the purpose of protecting Lexington and Richland County youth from the significant risks and consequences of underage drinking.
At the upcoming press conference, agency representatives, including LRADAC President and CEO Gayle Aycock, LRADAC Board Chair Chip Johnson and Crimestoppers Board Chair Judy Powers, will share about the purpose and handling of the campaign as well as remind community members of additional efforts surrounding underage drinking prevention in the Midlands, specifically during this holiday season. Additionally, a media kit will be launched that day to provide the community with a way to share awareness about the campaign. The press conference will take place on April 12th, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the LRADAC’s Richland Campus, located in Columbia at 2711 Colonial Drive.
The 5th & 11th Circuit AET is a specialized group of law enforcement officers dedicated to enforcing underage drinking laws. AET incorporates specialized training and strategies to focus on reducing access and use to alcohol by underage persons. The 5th circuit covers Richland and Kershaw Counties and the 11th circuit includes Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield and McCormick Counties.
Midlands Crimestoppers was developed as an effective crime-solving organization throughout the world, with the primary objective of this tri-partite organization, Community, Media and Law Enforcement, “Working Together to Solve Crime.”
