COLUMBIA (WACH) -- A new statewide program is making prom and graduation season safer for students.
The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services is teaming up with local law enforcement to help prevent underage drinking.
"Some people have to go to jail, some people have to be charged with different crimes," says Deputy Scott Stover with the Richland County Sheriff's Department. "Our success is not based on the number of tickets we write or the number of arrests we've made, it's based on the number of lives we've changed."
During the "Out of their Hands" campaign in April officials launched safety checkpoints and shoulder tap operations.
Officials say those actions led to more than 900 charges being filed to keep young people safe.
"We've got to continue to work to prevent this problem, says Sheriff James R. Metts with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, "and get the information out to the communities about what we're doing and ask them all to come in and join us as partners in this effort."
Officials also congratulated students at Irmo High School for setting an example. Every student passed a required breathalyzer test given before entering the prom this year.
Do you think underage drinking is a problem in South Carolina? If so, why do you think this still exists?
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