KSP Announces Funding To Reduce Underage Drinking In Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commissioner Rodney Brewer announced today that the agency is accepting mini-grant proposals for underage drinking prevention projects. Five $2,500 mini-grants and one $25,000 enforcement grant will be awarded. The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) block grant. KSP serves as the designated state administrator for the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) grant.

“Enforcement is vital to reducing underage drinking in Kentucky, but it must be accompanied by an educational component that will bring awareness about the serious dangers involved,” said Brewer. "These federal dollars will allow communities to work together to identify local needs and sustain a successful strategy to combat underage drinking.”

Brewer advised that the two main contributing factors to underage drinking are a youth’s ability to illegally purchase alcohol and obtaining someone over the age of 21 to purchase it for them.

“EUDL grant activities specifically target these factors and are designed to reduce underage drinking by making it harder to gain access to alcohol,” remarked Brewer. “Alcohol is often the gateway drug to other dangerous activities and behaviors. We must utilize every effort available to protect our most valuable asset our youth.”

Applications for the 2013-2014 EUDL grant must be submitted to KSP on or before August 29th, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. The grant application package can be accessed through the KSP website at http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/hsp/eudl.htm.