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Law Enforcement Around the Country Prepare for Spring Break Drinkers

Spring break is a time-honored tradition in the United States.  Students from kindergarten to college are granted a weeklong vacation in March or April to celebrate spring.  For the older set of students, many flock to warm beaches such as Destin, Florida and South Padre, Texas.  Law enforcement throughout the country are preparing for the influx of college-aged students and planning to crack down on one of the most serious problems affecting this age group: underage drinking.

The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years old, but many people take their first drink long before it is legal.  Studies show that a shocking percentage of middle schoolers have been exposed to alcohol, admitting to drinking at 11 and 12 years old.  College presents a unique opportunity for many students in that alcohol is readily available, many campuses have lax or unenforced drinking policies and there is little to no supervision at most times.  This results in large numbers of underage drinkers.  Spring break seems to be a highlight for this epidemic.

Alcohol consumption for underage students can have deadly consequences.  Many fatal car accidents of people in this age group involve alcohol.  Law enforcement have teamed together with national organizations to put more officers on the roads, beaches and anywhere they think there could be a problem.  Additional DUI checkpoints have been added throughout areas with high rates of drunk driving related accidents.  Additional patrols and ID checkpoints have been added throughout the country.  The hope is to reduce the number of drunk driving related accidents or alcohol-related injuries this year and every year in the future.