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Greg Oliver

Central police investigator Khristy Justice views one of several display booths featured at the Alcohol Enforcement Team Awards Banquet held Thursday at Clemson University’s Madren Center. The Clemson and Central police departments were among law enforcement agencies in Pickens and Greenville counties honored for their crackdown efforts regarding underage drinking.

CLEMSON — The Clemson and Central police departments are serious about their goal of reducing the number of cases involving underage drinking and the results are indicative of their efforts.

On Thursday, the two were among law enforcement agencies throughout the 13th Judicial Circuit of Pickens and Greenville counties to be recognized for achievements in alcohol enforcement during the past year. Clemson and Central won three of the four awards presented by Matt Smith of The Phoenix Center (the legislated authority on substance abuse for Greenville County and the county's largest provider of treatment and prevention services).

Clemson police received the Most Compliance Checks Award, with more than 100, while Central police received the Comprehensive Enforcement Award and the Lowest Non-Compliance Rate, for having the lowest alcohol buy rate at 8.8 percent. The Easley Police Department captured the Outstanding Initiative Award.

Detective Tate Brown, reading a statement issued by Police Chief Jimmy Dixon, who was unable to attend, said the Clemson Police Department takes alcohol enforcement very seriously.

“We cover seven square miles, with more than 60 licensed alcohol establishments and a major university in our backyard,” said the statement. “AET (Alcohol Enforcement Team) plays a vital role and we have utilized every dime they have provided.”

Although Pickens and Greenville county law enforcement officials have worked to reduce the number of underage drinkers in the state, plenty of work remains.

Underage drinking contributes to more teen deaths than any other cause and approximately 186,000 underage youth in South Carolina choose to drink alcohol, with 71 percent having at least one drink on one or more days of their life, 26 percent having their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13; 43 percent having at least one drink on more than one occasion in the past 30 days; 24 percent having five or more drinks in a row (such as binge drinking) in the past 30 days; and six percent having at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.

Statistics show that underage drinkers consumed 12.2 percent of all alcohol sold in South Carolina in 2004, totaling $228 million in sales that provided $110 million in profits to the alcohol industry. In 2005, the social costs of underage drinking totaled nearly $900 million in South Carolina.

Brown said Clemson police meet on an annual basis with university students as well as establishment owners who possess a license to sell alcohol. The meeting is typically held at the end of August.

“This gives police an opportunity to explain how they do things and lets people know they all have to be on the same level playing field,” Brown said.

Smith said alcohol enforcement efforts seem to be paying off. The number of compliance checks has increased — from 775 to 959 in a year’s time — while the percentage of alcohol purchases by or for underage drinkers has dropped from 15.5 percent to 14.7 percent.

“Hopefully, clerks will continue to check IDs more thoroughly and not serve alcohol to minors,” Smith said.

Justice said the recognition received by the Central Police Department means the agency played a part in addressing the “underage alcohol vice.”

“It’s an honor playing such a small part in providing that education to the merchants and the students, resulting in a lower alcohol buy,” said Central police investigator Khristy Justice.