Berkeley, California (Thursday, January 8, 2003) – The Berkeley Police Department has received a grant of $50,000 to increase enforcement of underage drinking laws and reduce alcohol consumption by minors.  In cooperation with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), the money will allow the Berkeley Police Department to dedicate more resources to address problems such as underage drinking at bars and restaurants, citizens who furnish or facilitate alcohol to minors, and businesses who fail to properly check identification of minors attempting to purchase alcohol. 

The program strives to work in cooperation with the University of California, Berkeley, to address student alcohol abuse.  The ABC Grants for University of California Partnership started in March of 2003 when the Davis Administration and the UC System entered into an Alcohol Issues Cooperative Agreement to address the issue of alcohol abuse in California University campus communities.  Of the nine police agencies that have UC campuses in their jurisdiction, the Berkeley Police Department was one of five to receive grant money.

The department will first seek voluntary compliance from local merchants through educational programs sponsored by ABC.  These programs include Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD), Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol Related Crime Tendencies (IMPACT) and Retail Operating Standards Task Force (ROSTF).  These are free programs that teach alcohol responsibility and the laws as they pertain to merchants and their employees.