State officials are taking a proactive approach to combat underage drinking during the Mardi Gras season.
The plan is two-fold, said Troy Hebert, commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. He said agents have been visiting businesses asking for cooperation, and the department will have more agents patrolling throughout the holiday.
“Mardi Gras is such an economic and great asset to the state,” Hebert said. “We want to continue to have a safe and fun Mardi Gras.”
Hebert said he is not trying to ruin the carnival season but to uphold its safety and integrity.
“We aren’t trying to take the fun out of Mardi Gras. We’re trying to make sure the alcohol part is handled properly,” Hebert said.
He said ATC is working with State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson and Fire Marshal Butch Browning to ensure a safe holiday season.
Hebert said the state police will also be sending additional officers to help with safety.
New Orleans Police Department will also have an abundance of officers patrolling in heavily populated areas during Mardi Gras, said Officer Garry Flot, NOPD spokesman.
“The NOPD will be in full force on parade routes, in the French Quarter and throughout the City of New Orleans looking for criminal activity,” Flot said.
Brad Armentor, kinesiology sophomore, said the efforts of the state to control underage drinking may not be a match for the widespread trend.
“They will probably barely put a dent in [underage drinking] because it’s part of the culture,” Armentor said.
Hebert said Mardi Gras is less active in northern Louisiana, so agents are being reassigned to the South during the holiday.
He said Baton Rouge, Thibodaux, Monroe, the Acadiana Parishes, Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish are some of the areas receiving more agents.
Celina Will, geology graduate student, said it will be hard for agents to distinguish who is underage because so many people look younger than they are.
“Underage children will drink no matter what. It’s a waste of everyone’s time,” Will said.
Jennifer Jefferson, accounting sophomore, also said she believes efforts from the state will be unfeasible.
“I think it’s almost impossible, but it’s a great try,” Jefferson said.
According to the ATC news release, Orleans and Jefferson parishes combined create the biggest region in the state that sells alcohol, with 553 bars and 491 restaurants in Orleans Parish and 503 bars and 472 restaurants in Jefferson Parish.
Lauren Rogers, secretary to Commissioner Hebert, said in
East Baton Rouge Parish there are 937 businesses with alcohol permits.
“In the New Orleans area, many businesses have already been approached to solicit their cooperation by exchanging contact information for quicker response time and making sure businesses clearly understand the laws and regulations so they are prepared to handle the problems associated with large crowds,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a news release.
The Governor’s Office release also said ATC will have both uniformed and undercover agents patrolling throughout the state.