As the fall semester begins at the five colleges in St. Lawrence County, also beginning is a joint effort by state agencies to crack down on underage drinking on college campuses and in college towns.

Officials in a news release said students under the age of 21 at SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University in Potsdam, SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University in Canton, and at the SUNY ESF Ranger School in Wanakena “are warned that the New York State Liquor Authority and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, working with local law enforcement agencies, will conduct statewide sweeps of places holding liquor licenses, including bars, restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores, looking for fake IDs and illegal sales to minors.”

People under 21 using fake IDs to buy alcohol can be arrested and have their licenses revoked for at least 90 days, up to one year. Businesses charged by the State Liquor Authority with underage sales face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Repeat offenders face potential suspension or revocation of their liquor licenses.

During underage drinking sweeps in April, the SLA charged 200 businesses with selling to a minor, and DMV made 48 arrests of persons under 21 trying to use false identification to buy alcohol.