The Alliance Against Underage Drinking urges the criminal justice community-- police departments, sheriff's offices, and juvenile probation departments, as well as prosecutors and judges-- to "step up to the plate" and take a leadership role in the fight against underage drinking.

The link between underage drinking and community crime rates is well documented and unmistakably clear. Enforcing the state's underage drinking laws and taking steps to reduce the availability of alcoholic beverage among local youth don't just protect young people from the consequences of their own poor judgment, such actions protect the entire community from the loss of life, limb, and property.

Protecting their communities from crime and from the consequences of crime is why local law enforcement agencies exist and are supported by tax dollars. To be effective at controlling and reducing crime, local law enforcement must have an effective strategy to control and reduce underage drinking.

In the past, lack of knowledge concerning the state's alcoholic beverage laws, unfamiliarity with current age-law enforcement methods, and conflicting priorities have often left local law enforcement on the sidelines of the underage drinking fight. This has changed-- dramatically changed-- in recent years, but more effort and leadership on the part of local law enforcement are sorely needed.

As the reader will find by reviewing the links found on this page, Alliance partners and affiliated organizations support the efforts of local law enforcement agencies to curb underage drinking in their communities by providing numerous free resources ranging from free training opportunities and logistical support to supplemental manpower. Three Alliance partners-- The Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Texas Department of Transportation-- are potential sources of grants for local underage drinking enforcement projects. The Alliance Against Underage Drinking urges Local law enforcement agencies to take advantage of these free resources.