Arrests for underage drinking have gone down dramatically in the past two years with the help of undercover detectives scaring underage students — not necessarily to stop drinking, but to keep it hidden.
Sgt. Richard Curoy of the Columbus Division of Police said it is getting harder to find underage drinkers.
"It used to be really easy," Curoy said. "They know we're up there working so they keep it inside and quiet."
Julie Ehrhart, a public information officer in the investigative unit of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said the department has collaborated with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department in a program called STOP, which stands for Stop Teenage Opportunity Purchases.
It was started in April 2001 and has now expanded into Licking and Fairfield counties.
Lt. Mike Spiert of the Columbus Division of Police, who is also the director of STOP, said there's been some confusion with the methods used in catching those who sell to underage drinkers.
"We use no tricks, just checking," Spiert said.
When underage informants attempt a purchase, they use their real names and real IDs with their real ages, Spiert said.
When a bartender or store clerk still sells to the underage buyer, he attributes it to "poor training, they're in a hurry, or they just don't care," he said.
"There are still those out there who will request ID and see it is an underage individual," Ehrhart said.
"Even with that, the clerk will sometimes make a sale. They're not taking the time to look at the birthday and do the math. It's right on the ID.," she said.
"I don't know how it can be any easier."
If an underage informant from STOP has been successful at purchasing alcohol, the permit holder goes to court and pays a fine, or the permit can be suspended or revoked, Ehrhart said.
Thirty-six detectives in the vice unit of the Columbus Division of Police work on apprehending underage drinkers on a regular basis. They go undercover to investigate parties on campus, Curoy said.
"If they look young, we ask for ID," he said. "Some admit they're underage."
Others try to convince officers they've forgotten to bring their licenses, but police won't release anyone until given proper proof, even those who are of age who truly have left their identification at home, Curoy said.
"There's been a great reduction in the last couple years because we've been working so hard," he said. "We've arrested a couple hundred people in the last couple years and raided 30 parties."
About 10 people per party are busted for underage drinking, Curoy said. The worst cases are during the spring and fall on Friday and Saturday nights, he said.
Fall poses increased activity because of football season, Curoy said.
"The game does increase the drinking in the campus area," he said. "After the game, they stick around and go to bars."
A lot of the people drinking around campus aren't from Columbus, Curoy said. They come from elsewhere looking for parties.
"Some are in high school, under 18, some are from other colleges, some just know they can find beer so they come around and find parties to get free beer," Curoy said.
Curoy said drinking leads to destructive behavior such as rioting.
"That's what happens when you get alcohol in you," Curoy said. "We're hoping that doesn't happen on the Michigan game."
"Last year it was quiet because it was an away game and raining, but the year before that, 120 fires were set around the campus area and cars were flipped over on Chittenden," he said.
Lt. Mike Spiert of the Columbus Division of Police said they are prepared for Michigan weekend.
"All law enforcement agencies will be stepping up law enforcement to keep alcohol from getting into minors' hands," he said.
Last October, during the football season, 15 citations were given to underage drinkers, but only five were cited this October.
Within the past two years, numbers have decreased in general. In 2001, 169 underage drinkers were cited in the campus area, and only 33 have been reported so far this year, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
"Everybody goes to jail for possession of alcohol under the age of 21," Curoy said. "They're held until bail or until they see the judge the next day."
Different judges have different sentencing philosophies, Curoy said.
"The worst part is going to jail, and most of the judges are under the philosophy to educate rather than punish because they're students — our future doctors, lawyers and business executives."
Some judges will dismiss the charge if you go to a one-day alcohol safety course, Curoy said. The maximum jail time if convicted is six months, but Curoy said he has never seen that happen.
Many students get their alcohol from parties, Curoy said. However, parties have been less widespread this year compared to the past two years.
In addition to fewer parties, bars and liquor stores have been abiding by the law.
"All the places that sell beer on campus are doing an excellent job of checking identification," Curoy said. "Ninety-nine percent of them check all the time."
Last month, three individuals were cited for selling or furnishing alcohol to underage people in the campus area. Furnishing is when someone who is 21 or older buys alcohol for someone who is underage, Ehrhart said.
That's usually how underage students get alcohol, Curoy said.
"The only way is to send older friends," he said.
Spiert said results indicate there has been a 50 percent reduction of non-compliance among bars, carryouts and gas stations of selling alcohol to minors from April 2001 to October 2002 because area businesses have been losing their permits for non-compliance.
"There's been a real improvement in the businesses who are paying attention and doing better training," Spiert said.
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