Submitted by John Guilfoil for the Bedford Police Department
Police Chief Robert Bongiorno reports that the Bedford Police Department will conduct random checks of licensed premises to ensure that they are in compliance with local and state alcohol regulations. These checks are being done in an effort to restrict the availability of alcohol to minors, an issue that has hits close to home in communities across the nation.
“Alcohol consumption by young people has a profound effect on our community,” Chief Bongiorno said. “Alcohol use by teens is related to traffic crashes, crime, poor performance in school and a number of other behaviors having an adverse impact on the quality of life.”
It should be noted, however, that the enforcement actions are not related to any specific rise or spike in underage drinking in Bedford. Rather, the department is being proactive in its approach to dealing with something that it recognizes is a problem in every city and town.
No single approach will entirely solve the problem of underage drinking. Each approach, however, implemented effectively, and used in concert with all the other strategies currently being implemented by Town organizations like the Police, Schools, and Youth and Family Services may help to reduce the scope of the problem.
The Bedford Police Department has trained officers in the procedures used to conduct lawful alcohol compliance checks of establishments licensed to serve alcohol, and these checks will become a routine part of the Department’s crime prevention efforts.
“This will not be a one-time initiative,” Chief Bongiorno said. “We will periodically conduct compliance checks to ensure the safety of our children and to ensure that our licensed establishments are in compliance with the law.”
The Bedford Police Department wishes to thank the community for its continued support and for all the efforts of citizens to help ensure the safety of Bedford children during the upcoming holiday season.
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