ABC, Cops in Shops, Preventing Underage Drinking
As Revelers Return to Jersey Shore, Cops in Shops back for 17th Year
Division of Alcohol Beverage Control graphic
BELMAR – With the business of summer getting back to usual at the Jersey Shore, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control today joined with other state, county and local officials to announce the summer kickoff of its successful “Cops in Shops” enforcement initiative.
Under the program, local police officers work undercover in participating retail locations. Law enforcement officials either pose as store employees or are positioned outside the establishment to apprehend adults who attempt to purchase alcohol for underage drinkers. Cops in Shops is a program designed by the Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers. The New Jersey Cops in Shops program is recognized nationally as a successful program.
“Hurricane Sandy did some damage, but we are proud to be back here at the Shore,” said Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Michael Halfacre. “Given the incredible progress this area has made in the last eight months, people are again flocking to their favorite spots along the Jersey Shore. They’re back, which means we’re back.”
“Attitudes among some adults and young people about the dangers of underage drinking can range from indifferent to dismissive, making our job that much more challenging. But that’s a challenge we embrace at the ABC because we are committed to preserving the physical and emotional health of the young people in New Jersey,” he said.
This summer, 28 Shore police departments are participating in the program, with approximately $61,000 in funding provided by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
“We are all looking forward to enjoying the Jersey Shore this summer, but we’re focused today on a serious mission: keeping our teens and young people safe. We have an obligation to prevent underage drinking in New Jersey, and one of the most effective ways to do that is with the Cops In Shops initiative,” said Lee Vartan, Chief of Staff for the Attorney General’s Office.
Twenty-eight Jersey Shore towns will receive grants from the ABC to run the program this year. In 2012, participating law enforcement agencies arrested 202 individuals during the crackdown. Since the ABC adopted the popular program from the Century Council in 1996, law enforcement has made more than 10,000 arrests due to the initiative.
“This summer on the shore, anyone under 21 should know that if you’re too young to buy, don’t even try. Cops will be in every place necessary to make sure everyone who buys is of legal age,” said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of The Century Council.
The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control also administers the Cops in Shops College-Fall and Year-Round Initiatives. The College-Fall Initiative grant is available to police departments in New Jersey with a college or university either within its borders or in a neighboring community, and is aimed at keeping anyone under the age of 21 from drinking alcohol. This program, funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, runs from November through June.
The ABC also administers the Year-Round Initiative, which was recently completed by 22 law enforcement agencies with funding from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. A list of all grantees can be found below.
- Summer Initiative: Absecon, Avalon, Barnegat Township, Beach Haven, Belmar, Egg Harbor Township, Harvey Cedars, Jackson Township, Lake Como, Lakehurst, Lakewood, Lavallette Boro, Long Beach Township, Lower Township, Manchester Township, Neptune Township, Neptune City, North Wildwood, Ocean Gate, Ocean Township, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Boro, Sea Isle City, Seaside Heights, Ship Bottom, Spring Lake Heights, Toms River Township and Wildwood.
- College-Fall Initiative: Absecon, Allenhurst, Cherry Hill, Deptford Township, Eatontown, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Glassboro, Jackson Township, Livingston, Madison, Mahwah Township, Marlboro Township, Montclair, Morris Township, North Brunswick, Ocean Township, Phillipsburg, Piscataway Township, South Brunswick Township, South Orange Village, Summit, Teaneck and Woodbridge.
- Year-Round Initiative: Atlantic City, Brigantine, Buena Boro, Fair Lawn, Burlington Township, Evesham, Medford, Newark, West Orange, Jersey City, West New York, Ewing Township, East Brunswick, Metuchen, Middletown Township, Red Bank, Brick Township, Hillsborough, Raritan, Westfield and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
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It’s hard to believe the taxpayers of New Jersey actually pay Mike Halfacre $10,000 a month plus government benefits for the work that he does. This “Cops in the Shops” program is a waste of money and resources.
Another member of the Christie Administration doing their job, and a good one at that, draws out the idiots.
Has it occurred to this numbskull above that the ABC has been around since prohibition, and that the program has apparently been around for years and years, but because its this Governor, or Mike Halfacre it’s suddenly a waste of taxpayer money?
Give me a break. Your attacks on Christie and his appointments are so pitiful. Crawl back under your rock until the next BSTP meeting
Halfacre has been out of office for a couple of years, hasn’t run for congress in more than three years, appears to be doing a good job with the ABC (had any rubbing alcohol served to you lately) and this idiot ^^ Still hates on him?
Either get a life or go back under your rock.
I can remember when Halfacre ran for Congress. He was in the race for about 10 minutes before he quit. Rather than fight, Halfacre surrendered to Scott Sipprelle faster than a prison sissy.
Remember that? And how all the whores in the establishment lifted their skirts for Sipprelle’s money? And how the BSTPG kicked the establishment ass?
How’d that work out? No more money and still no congressman. But the BSTPG is still going strong!!
That is what is wrong with you guys, because Corsi received more votes than Sipprelle in Monmouth County t you gloat, but who won the primary? You are so into the symbolism but forget about the real task.
BSTPG fabricates history.
In truth, while Sipprelle lost monmouth he won the primary and Corsi, Halfacre and the BSTPG endorsed Sipprelle in the general election.
Halfacre is doing a terrific job.
So whoever is writing this dribble is either late to the party, a pot stirrer, or as usual BSTPG making it up as they go along.
Halfacre quit running for Congress because he was in over his head. Halfacre started his doomed campaign for Congress by claiming to be pro-choice. (He initially claimed to be “restrictive choice.”) When that didn’t work out for him, Halfacre flip-flopped and told Art Gallagher that he was a born-again pro-lifer who believes that life begins at conception.
Anyone that watched Halfacre awkwardly explain his flip-flop will quickly understand why Halfacre quit the race shortly after he was interviewed by Art Gallagher. When Mike Halfacre was done stammering, it became clear to all that he wasn’t ready for prime time. Halfacre himself must have realized that he didn’t have what it takes to be anything other than the mayor of a small town. He became a quitter.
Halfacre’s Flip-Flop on Abortion
As was said above: yawn.
For the record, Bayshore did not endorse Sipprelle. They went from Halfacre to Corsi. I tried to get Sipprelle a fair shake with them but one of the leaders, who is no longer active with BSTP for obvious reasons, squashed my attempt.