POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Police Department conducted an underage alcohol sales compliance check in the Village of Potsdam Monday night.

Police and underage agents of the department, checked twelve businesses within the Village. Clerks at all twelve of the businesses checked turned away the underage agents without selling the alcohol to them.

Police say drinking by minors can lead to unintentional deaths and injuries to not only themselves, but innocent people. A considerable amount of the violence seen in the village by people under the age of 21 is also alcohol related, according to police.

Police say the compliance check comes at a time underage alcohol related incidents in the village are on a rise. These incidents include from the minor offenses of noise violations, open containers and underage possession of alcohol to offenses where the underage subjects could become injured such as disorderly conducts, assaults, and incidents where the underage person is so highly intoxicated as a result injuries or death could result.

In the last month alone, police officers and rescue squad members have been dispatched ten times in Potsdam for highly intoxicated underage subjects, many of which were found unconscious in need of medical attention due to their intoxication levels.

Police say they were pleased that these stores turned away the underage agents, and were also in compliance with the other alcohol laws.

The businesses checked that were checked for compliance with the Alcohol Beverage Control Law regarding the Prohibited Sale of Alcohol to Underage Persons were:

• IGA, Elm Street

• Kinney Drugs, Maple Street

• Sugarcreek, Maple Street

• Sugarcreek, Market Street

• Stewarts, Market Street

• Village Wines and Liquors, Main Street

• T&R Wines and Liquors, Market Street

• A-Plus, Market Street

• Kinney Drugs, Market Street

• Walgreen’s, Market Street

• Price Chopper, Market Street

• Parkway Express – Valero, Elm Street