Friday evening Ponca City Police Officers working with teens from out of town attempted to make underage beer and alcohol buys from local businesses. With the exception of two businesses, compliance was much improved. This effort is part of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health’s initiative2M2L Too Much Too Lose, targeting underage alcohol use.
The teens, a 15 year old boy and girl and an 18 year old girl were able to buy beer from the Travel Plaza located on 14th Street and the Dollar General on West Grand Avenue. The clerks at both businesses were issued citations to appear in Municipal Court for the sale of beer to a minor. Several other businesses that sold alcohol did not sell to the teens.
The last controlled beer and alcohol purchase operation was on April 10 in Ponca City. At that time six local business sold beer and two sold liquor to the underage teens.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and substance abuse services program 2M2L targets communities throughout the state, the 2 Much 2 Lose (2M2L) project aims to decrease underage drinking and related social problems, decrease youth access to alcohol through retail and social sources, increase community-level support for environmental change, and increase youth-driven prevention activities. The project’s comprehensive plan includes law enforcement training and technical assistance, community mobilization, strategic partnership development, youth leadership development, alcohol retailer training, interagency collaboration, and media advocacy.
