OSU, Area Police Stepping Up Alcohol Enforcement

Oklahoma State and area police agencies are implementing a new strategy to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking. It's a zero tolerance policy that's going into effect immediately.

Oklahoma State University and campus, local and state law enforcement officers are teaming up in a highly coordinated effort to address what could be a deadly problem.

As the new school year is underway for Oklahoma State students, school leaders and police want those students and the public to be on notice; drinking and driving and underage drinking will be taken very seriously.

"They think it's a rite of passage that underage youth can drink, and it's not," said ABLE agent, Gina Pratt.

Detective Sherae LeJeune with Stillwater Police said, "You can get hit by a car, you can be picked up by police, go to jail, sometimes it can ruin your career, your school career."

Campus police, Stillwater officers and deputies will have extra patrols before, during and after football games and other times year round when more people are likely to drink.

Chuck Lester with OSU Prevention Programs said, "They're all going to be cross deputized to be able to work together and go out and be able to enforce alcohol laws."

"It's very important, it saves lives. It saves lives,” Pratt said.

State alcohol enforcement agents will also frequently check to make sure bars don't sell someone too much to drink or any alcohol at all to someone under 21.

Officers will also be on party patrol and checking to make sure no one violates Oklahoma social host law which makes it illegal for underage drinkers to have access to alcohol.

"If they host a party they are absolutely liable for all the people who show up,” Lester said.

Education is a key component to the collaboration OSU's prevention program had been working to develop for months.

"Sometimes kids just don't know. They don't know what they can and can't do in the city,” LeJeune said.

Students caught drinking and driving or drinking underage will also face strict oversight by student conduct administrators and could face academic penalties, like being suspended or expelled.

Another part of the program is to set up a hotline where people can report violations of the social host law in Oklahoma.