Teen drinking targeted with federal grant

Nevada will get a $350,000 federal grant to help stop underage drinking in Nevada.

Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign said the funding will help enforce laws prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol by minors and help community groups educate teens about the dangers of drinking.

"Underage drinking is a widespread problem in our state and around the country," said Reid, D-Nev. "This grant will give adults the necessary tools to keep alcohol away from teens."

"As a father and a senator, I understand the importance of preventing underage drinking, and I also believe in tough enforcement of the law against those participating and contributing to these acts," said Ensign, R-Nev.

The money will be available to local community coalitions and enforcement agencies throughout the state to fund community-based strategies that educate teens, parents and the general community about underage drinking.

The grant will also fund enforcement including alcohol sale compliance checks, third-party purchaser operations, fake identification control and special-event control.

The Nevada Department of Human Resources estimates 84,000 underage youths in Nevada drink each year and that in 2001, underage drinkers consumed 12.9 percent of all alcohol sold in Nevada.