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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation has provided funding to allow extra patrols to crack down on underage drinking during prom season in North Dakota.

According to the NDDOT, the North Dakota Highway Patrol as well as police and sheriff’s departments in the state will be adding patrols to help prevent and suppress underage drinking.

“We hope the extra patrols will convince young people to make the smart decision not to celebrate with alcohol. If we find a minor consuming or in possession of alcohol, they could end up in court and ordered to pay fines,” said Sgt. Dana Rustebakke of the Valley City Police Department. “The primary goal of added enforcement is to prevent them from drinking.”

Alcohol use among teenagers is not unavoidable. The NDDOT says that with the positive influence of parents, schools, law enforcement and the community, young people can learn that the celebrations in their lives don’t need to include alcohol.

Drinking among youth can have many negative consequences, from damage to brains that are still developing—to poor choices like driving after drinking resulting in injury or death. Learn more at ndcodefortheroad.org.