Grant Helps Louisiana City Crack Down On Underage Drinking

The Houma Police Department is using state grant money from Louisiana to crack down on underage drinking and smoking.

The department was awarded a $187,220 grant through the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement program.

The money will be used to put more officers on the street to enforce the local curfew and stop underage drinking and smoking.

The department recently set up undercover operations to catch businesses selling tobacco and alcohol to minors. The Courier reported that a few stores have been given citations.

So far, officers have sent local minors into two dozen stores to attempt to purchase cigarettes and alcohol. There were 22 local businesses in compliance with the law. Two others were given citations.