Underage drinking sting leads to two arrests

HARLEM VALLEY — The New York State Police conducted an “underage drinking enforcement operation” in several locations throughout eastern Dutchess County on Friday, Nov. 25, to root out those who violate state laws.“Nineteen stores were checked by utilizing an 18-year-old volunteer to purchase beer under the observation of plainclothes investigators supported by uniformed troopers,” stated a press release from the police department. “Most of the stores were found to be in compliance with the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Law, which prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age.”The operation, which was conducted by a team from the Millbrook barracks, did find two stores that were not in compliance with the law. The clerks that illegally sold the alcoholic beverages to the 18-year-old volunteer were arrested.The two arrested clerks were 30-year-old Soni Dalal, who worked at the Sunoco Mart in Dover Plains, and 20-year-old Victoria Accorinti, who worked at the Family Quick Stop in Pawling.Both were charged with prohibited sale of alcohol, which is a misdemeanor under the Alcohol Beverage Control Law.Their employers may also receive civil penalties imposed by the State Liquor Authority.“The New York State Police routinely conducts underage drinking enforcement operations throughout the state in an effort to curb alcohol abuse and DWI incidents among teenagers,” stated the press release.According to a fact sheet released by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, “alcohol is the most commonly used drug among adolescents.” Nearly four out of five high schoolers have reported using alcohol.Among full-time college students, more that 64 percent reported having used alcohol in the month prior to the survey.“Alcohol use among teens is associated with the three most common causes of teenage deaths: accidental deaths (such as car crashes), homicides and suicide,” stated the fact sheet. “On average, eight adolescents a day in the United States die in alcohol-related automobile crashes, and nine out of 10 teenage automobile accidents involve the use of alcohol. Ninety-five percent of violent crimes on college campuses are alcohol-related. The majority of rapes (90 percent) involve alcohol use by either the victim and/or the assailant.”

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