Walhalla underage drinking problem

Walhalla’s new chief of police is shedding light on a community problem which, of late, is more and more prevalent, he says. Chief Ronald Wilbanks said it’s the problem of young people breaking or attempting to break the law against underage drinking. The police have already made cases against 17 to 19 year olds who, though are seen as young adults in many respects, fall under the 21-year old state requirement to be able to buy and consume alcohol. Those cases, he says, involve stores that have sold to the underage or where attempts have been made. To help the Walhalla police, Wilbanks says, both the Oconee Sheriff’s Department and the state police have pledged their assistance.