GULF SHORES, Ala. (WPMI) Spring breakers are in full force this week at local beaches, and so is law enforcement.
Police are dispatching more officers to check for illegal activity, especially underage drinking. They're going undercover to catch underage drinkers. Gulf Shores Police say so far, there have been 44 arrests involving alcohol since last Friday. It's a low number and they intend to keep it that way.
Before noon Wednesday, spring break parties had already started.
"We have like designated drivers set up everyday. We hand pick them at the beginning of the week and otherwise we just set up a budget everyday , and we buy beer or liquor and just start from there," said Jonathan Lowe , who is on spring break this week.
It's all about responsibility and about the law. Local beach bartenders are taught and tested to look out for underage drinking, and for those who may have had way too much.
"There are signs they look for people becoming intoxicated and it's up to them to determine if this person is approaching that level. Then we have systems of backing down as far as service goes," said Brad Cohen, manager at the Hangout Restaurant.
The State ABC Board has more than a dozen officers, some undercover assigned to the beach for spring break. Bartenders and managers expect it and welcome it.
"When we suspect they are underage, you would be surprised how many think they can get away with it. They may be two months shy and they give us the look like its not our job but we're good we check Every ID 40 and under so," said Desiree Kiesler who bartends at the Hangout.
"They are trained to look for certain points on IDs that show us if it's valid or not. We also have a book that has IDs from every state as well as from other countries that we can use as a reference to see if that ID matches what its supposed to match," said Cohen.
Of those 44 arrest since Friday, half were for DUI. Police say they will double their presence along Beach Boulevard, especially in the evening hours.
