As students return to colleges and universities across the state for the fall semester, the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will be ramping up efforts to combat underage drinking.
In collaboration with municipal and state police, liquor enforcement officers will increase patrols around campuses and engage with campus administrations to curb alcohol-related issues among students, according to a statement issued recently.
The initiative involves targeted enforcement of state laws against the purchase, possession, consumption, or distribution of alcohol by individuals under the age of 21.
According to officials, those found violating the underage drinking laws will face strict penalties, including a fine of up to $500 and potential imprisonment for up to 90 days for first-time offenders. Subsequent offenses could see fines increase to $1,000.
Liquor enforcement officers are not only focusing on students but also on liquor licensees in the vicinity of colleges and universities. The officers aim to foster awareness and reinforce the importance of not selling alcohol to minors through direct engagement with local businesses, state police said.
Anyone caught supplying alcohol to minors, including parents, will be charged with furnishing alcohol to minors, a third-degree misdemeanor under PA Title 18. The law stipulates a minimum fine of $1,000 and possible imprisonment for up to a year for first offenders, escalating to a minimum of $2,500 for additional offenses, state police said.
Those charged under these the law will undergo fingerprinting and photographing as part of the arrest process, state police said.
According to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board data from 2022, 11.1 percent of 12 to 20 year olds reported binge drinking at least once in the previous month.
For more information or to report concerns, District Office Commander, Sgt. Waleska Gonzalez, can be contacted at the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement office at 610-366-2600 during normal business hours.
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