Effort to curb underage drinking draws attention

Efforts being made by Oconee Sheriff’s Office to help curb underage drinking are drawing plaudits in South Carolina’s capital city. In Columbia, the Oconee Sheriff’s Office received a recognition award during the April 1 South Carolina Underage Drinking Leadership Summit. The award was given by the South Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Teams. Lt. Jeremy Chapman says there are officers assigned to the Oconee Community Coalition. That coalition takes in law enforcement, school district officials, DSS, Behavioral Health, Department of Juvenile Justice and others. The coalition meets monthly and the law enforcement officers are responsible for going out and doing bar checks to make sure that no one is drinking underage. “We also go on what is called ‘party patrol’ where we send a team to check on things…, Chapman said.