Spring Break
Sharp spike in alcohol violations last year
Alcohol purchases by minors jumped from 469 to 726
Joe Astrouski / City Editor
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News
The number of minors charged with alcohol violations by the Charleston Police Department rose sharply in 2008, according to the department's newly released annual report.
From 2007 to 2008, the number of cases of "purchase or acceptance of alcohol by a minor" jumped from 469 to 726, according to the report.
Increased police patrols designed to enforce alcohol laws are responsible for the increase, said Police Chief Mark Jenkins.
"This past school year, we've been putting extra guys on patrol … looking for open and blatant alcohol consumption," Jenkins said. "Definitely what we don't want is kids … walking around the community with open alcohol containers."
While stopping public alcohol consumption is a high priority for Charleston police, busting house parties and small gatherings is not, Jenkins said.
"We don't make contact at parties unless we get a complaint," Jenkins said.
Consequently, the number of people charged with "possession of a keg without a permit" increased from three cases in 2007 to four in 2008 and "sale of alcohol without a license" increased from three cases in 2007 to four in 2008.
When police do investigate a party, they look for minors, Jenkins said.
"We're looking for underage kids," Jenkins said. "We get an underage kid, and we start questioning them about where they got the cup … and they usually tell us."
That caused the number of people charged with "gift or sale of alcohol to a minor" to increase from eight cases in 2007 to 49 in 2008.
Jenkins also said violations counted in the annual report do not include crimes charged by the University Police Department.
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
From 2007 to 2008, the number of cases of "purchase or acceptance of alcohol by a minor" jumped from 469 to 726, according to the report.
Increased police patrols designed to enforce alcohol laws are responsible for the increase, said Police Chief Mark Jenkins.
"This past school year, we've been putting extra guys on patrol … looking for open and blatant alcohol consumption," Jenkins said. "Definitely what we don't want is kids … walking around the community with open alcohol containers."
While stopping public alcohol consumption is a high priority for Charleston police, busting house parties and small gatherings is not, Jenkins said.
"We don't make contact at parties unless we get a complaint," Jenkins said.
Consequently, the number of people charged with "possession of a keg without a permit" increased from three cases in 2007 to four in 2008 and "sale of alcohol without a license" increased from three cases in 2007 to four in 2008.
When police do investigate a party, they look for minors, Jenkins said.
"We're looking for underage kids," Jenkins said. "We get an underage kid, and we start questioning them about where they got the cup … and they usually tell us."
That caused the number of people charged with "gift or sale of alcohol to a minor" to increase from eight cases in 2007 to 49 in 2008.
Jenkins also said violations counted in the annual report do not include crimes charged by the University Police Department.
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
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