Point Boro, Point Beach Among 28 Towns Targeted for Crackdown on Underage Drinking

Point Beach and Point Borough are among the Jersey Shore towns the state is targeting for extra enforcement of alcohol sales to minors.

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) joined with other state, county and local officials at a press conference in Belmar on Thursday to announce the summer kickoff of its “Cops in Shops” enforcement initiative.

The program deters underage drinking by having local police officers work undercover in liquor stores to target those under the age of 21 trying to purchase alcohol and adults who are buying alcohol for those under the legal age, according to a prepared statement from ABC.

Twenty-eight Jersey Shore towns will receive grants from the ABC to run the program this year.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said at the press conference that incidents of minors buying alcohol aren't "youthful indiscretions."

Instead the sale of alcohol to those under 21 is serious, often leading not only to lapses in judgement but arrests, loss of license, and even death, he said.

In 2012, participating law enforcement agencies arrested 202 individuals during the crackdown. Since Cops in Shops was adopted in 1996, law enforcement has made more than 10,000 arrests due to the initiative.

Other towns receiving grants include: 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, Sea Isle City, Seaside Heights, Ship Bottom, Spring Lake Heights, Toms River Township and Wildwood.