OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Police in Old Orchard Beach will be working this summer on a special enforcement focused on underage drinking.

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department announced on social media that it had recently been awarded funding for underage drinking enforcement through the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Law grant administered by Dirigo Safety, LLC.

Police officers in Old Orchard Beach will be working “proactive details” throughout the community, focusing on liquor enforcement and educating minors of the risks that come with consuming liquor. The department intends to have uniformed officers conducting liquor enforcements on the beach, and will also have plain clothes officers working on the details throughout the community.

“The Old Orchard Beach Police Department has zero tolerance for underage drinking. We encourage parents to educate their kids about the potential dangers and consequences of their actions,” said police in the post.

According to a 2018 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 25 percent of young Mainers age 12 to 20 surveyed said they had consumed alcohol in the past month, and nearly 49 percent of those 18 to 20 years of age had consumed alcohol in the past month.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].