Waterford Township Police Crack Down on Underage Alcohol and Vape Sales with Help from Local Coalition

Waterford Police and Community Coalition Take Action Against Underage Alcohol and Vape Sales

Waterford Township, MI – The Waterford Township Police Department, working with the Waterford Community Coalition, recently carried out a special operation to stop underage people from buying alcohol and vape products. Over the past few weeks, officers used underage decoys to visit 63 stores around the township and check whether they were selling to minors.

The Operation

According to Chief Scott Underwood, the operation was timed to start with the school year, making sure young people weren’t able to buy alcohol or vape products. The Waterford Community Coalition, a local group focused on health and safety, worked alongside the police to help make the operation successful. Officers checked a range of businesses, including liquor stores, vape shops, and smoke shops, to make sure they were following Michigan laws about selling to underage customers.

The Results: A Mixed Outcome

The results were concerning. Of the 63 stores visited, three sold alcohol to the underage decoys, and 19 vape and smoke shops sold vape products to those under 21.

This shows that there are still problems with stores selling harmful products to minors, even though it is illegal.

The Consequences

Chief Underwood said that businesses caught selling to minors will face consequences. Retailers who sold alcohol to minors, even though they are licensed by the State of Michigan, will be reported to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for further action.

Vape and smoke shops that sold to minors were given tickets under Michigan law. If any alcohol-selling stores also sold vape products to minors, they will get a ticket and be reported to the MLCC too.

Working with the Waterford Community Coalition

The Waterford Community Coalition played an important role in the operation. By partnering with the police, the coalition helped make sure the operation ran smoothly and supported the effort to keep young people safe.

“We’re proud to be part of this effort to protect our youth,” said a representative from the coalition. “Working with the police is key to making our community safer and reducing underage alcohol and vape use.”

The Importance of Staying Vigilant

These results remind us that it’s still a big challenge to stop underage sales of alcohol and vape products. With vaping becoming more popular and underage drinking still a problem, the Waterford Township Police Department and the Waterford Community Coalition are making it clear: businesses that break the law will face serious consequences.

“Protecting our young people from dangerous substances is a top priority for us,” said Chief Underwood. “We will keep working hard to make sure our community stays safe.”

What’s Next?