IMPORTANT NEWS...

Big Win for Florida Gators, Big Loss for Underage Drinkers at Tailgating Parties

January 9, 2009

TALLAHASSEE—As the University of Florida Gators celebrated their national championship win and left Dolphin Stadium with a trophy, underage people who drank or possessed alcohol during pre-game festivities went home with Notices to Appear in court.  The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco agents patrolled tailgating parties, arresting 29 people for underage possession of alcohol. 

The Bowl Championship Series final game occurred just two days after Secretary Charles W. Drago joined football-great Joe Theismann, the spokesman for TURF, Tailgaters Urging Responsibility and Fun, to announce the initiative intended to make football game celebrations family-friendly events.  DBPR joined The Charmer Sunbelt Group, Premier Beverage of Florida, The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, and The Brown-Forman Company to ‘tackle’ the important issue of responsible tailgating. 

“Football is a popular past-time in American culture and certainly in Florida.  Through partnerships, such as ‘TURF,’ we hope to increase education and prevention efforts so we don’t have to resort to enforcement to protect our youth,” said Secretary Charles W. Drago. 

The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.

The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists.  For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com.  For more information on TURF, visit TURFzone.org.

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