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Washington Parish Deputy Sheriffs and underage actors participated in a JUDE (Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement) operation last week to identify vendors illegally selling alcohol to minors, paid for by a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Sheriff Smith is happy to report that of the 36 businesses visited, only three were cited. This represents a decline from our last JUDE operation. Rest assured, these operations will continue to take place at random times to ensure that our local businesses stay on the right side of the law and to prevent alcohol from getting into the hands of our children in the Parish. One in four fatal teen vehicle crashes involves alcohol, and this is just one of the ways that we are trying to keep our children safe on the road.

Stan Heinrich, WPSO Training Coordinator, echoed this sentiment, saying, “A total of 32 places were visited during Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement (JUDE) in Washington Parish and only 3 sold alcohol to a minor.  The word must be getting out that selling alcohol to minors is NOT ok and proud of the vendors that ID’d the kids trying to buy!”

Thank you to all of the businesses and store clerks in Washington Parish who remain vigilant about checking IDs before selling alcohol or tobacco products.