With Memorial Day weekend here many of people in the metro are out and about some activities may involve alcohol.
This weekend, Project Extra Mile and local law enforcement teamed up to help keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.
Project Extra Mile hopes by doing a lot of these checks more stores will comply with the law.
A few underage teens from around the area are going into stores-restaurants and bars-to see if they can buy alcohol.
Executive Director of Project Extra Mile, Scott Linderer said the purpose of these checks is to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors and it works, “Research shows us the more frequently compliance checks are conducted, the least likely youth are to get alcohol in their hands,” said Linderer who goes on to say the stores they choose are completely random and police choose the students.
The kids must be under 21 and follow certain rules, such as no facial hair and have to look their age.
“Their objective isn't to lie or to trick the convenience store clerk, they are only allowed to say that they are of age 21 if they are asked and they are also allowed to say that they aren't working with law enforcement,” said Linderer.
If a store does not pass the test, Linderer said the penalties vary depending on if the store has a history of letting minors buy alcohol. The first offence is either pay 50-dollars a day for several days or has mandatory days of closure. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission can also step in too and provide its own penalties.
“It's not a good thing to us when people do sell, we're not out there trying to get sells or hoping that sells happen,” said Linderer hoping these checks reminds the clerks to look at ID’s because it could save their life.
“Make sure youth aren't dying from drinking and driving accidents, alcohol poising and that sort of things of that nature,” said Linderer.
P.E.M. do these checks around prom and graduation when alcohol use among teens are more prevalent.
On Tuesday, 3 News Now will get the results of the compliance checks.
To take a look at other compliance checks from previous years, click here: http://www.projectextramile.org/enforcement/compliance-checks