STING CRACKS DOWN ON SALES OF BOOZE, TOBACCO TO MINORS

It is refreshing to see a group of parents get concerned enough about their teen-age children to take effective action to stem a growing problem: underage drinking.

Several convenience stores with drive-up windows -- identified by the parents as major outlets for teen-agers who want to drink -- were targeted by law-enforcement officials after the parents sought assistance. Out of 11 stores in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, only two refused to sell alcohol and cigarettes to two teen-agers who were working under cover.

Trooper Perry Hazelwood of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was rightfully amazed when the sting operation discovered that some clerks check IDs and then go ahead and sell booze and cigarettes to youngsters.

In addition to the State Highway Patrol, law enforcement agencies involved in the sting operation were the Division of Liquor Control, police departments in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

The problem of selling liquor and cigarettes to underage consumers isn't peculiar to this area, of course. But efforts to do something about it are sorely lacking. For the most part parents, store managers and law enforcement agencies tend to look the other way rather than confront the issue head-on.

Other spot checks similar to the recent sting are promised for this area. Store clerks who are lax in checking IDs and sell to minors face arrest and possible fines and jail terms.

The winners, however, are youngsters who will find it more difficult to buy booze at a drive-up window. Their lives, as well as those other innocent motorists, may be saved as a result.