TELL US: How Would You Address Underage Drinking at Country Fest, Other Concerts?

Foxborough Police took a proactive approach in crowd control during last weekend’s New England Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium, resulting in over 100 arrests in two days. Do you agree with the strategy?

Some have criticized Foxborough Police for being “overzealous” during events at Gillette Stadium but that doesn’t concern Foxborough Police Chief Edward O’Leary. What does concern O’Leary, who has 26 years of experience leading the Foxborough Police Department, is underage drinking and the public's safety during events at Gillette Stadium. “I always have been an activist when it comes to underage drinking,” said O’Leary. “[No one was] unfairly treated [at the concerts] because they were underage and around alcohol.” O’Leary said Foxborough Police spent three months with Massachusetts State Police and Gillette Stadium security preparing for this year’s New England Country Music Festival – the ninth to be held at Gillette Stadium since its …

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Shoulder Taps Reveal Few Adults Willing to Purchase Alcohol for Minors in Foxborough

Foxborough High School students are revealing results from a “shoulder tap” survey conducted on June 3.

Foxborough High School students working with the S.A.F.E. (Substance Abuse Free Environment) Foxborough Coalition are revealing results from a “shoulder tap” survey conducted Friday night in cooperation with the Foxborough Police Department and 8 Liquor stores in Foxborough. On June 3, Foxborough High School student volunteers, working with the S.A.F.E. (Substance Abuse Free Environment) Foxborough Coalition and the Foxborough police, operated in teams outside 8 liquor stores. In an effort to raise awareness around underage drinking, the teens approached adults to ask them to purchase alcohol for them.  Adults who refused to buy received a thank you card and information from the students.  Adults, who expressed willingness to buy, received…

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Curbing Underage Drinking Focus of Shoulder Tap Campaign

SAFE Foxborough will conduct their "shoulder tap" campaign in June.

"Excuse me, do you think that you could pick me some beer? I just happened to leave my ID at home." That phrase is commonly used by teens when they seek out adults to buy them alcohol and is referred to as "Shoulder Tapping."  SAFE Foxborough, with the help of Police Chief Edward O'Leary, launched a campaign that is aimed at warning adults over 21-years-of-age about the legal consequences of buying alcohol for minors. SAFE Foxborough will conduct their "shoulder tap" campaign this month to spread awareness about this practice among the community. Teen members of Students Against Dangerous Decisions (SADD) have volunteered to ask adults outside Foxborough liquor stores to buy alcohol for them. If an adult refuses the teen volunteer, they …

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Talk of the Town

Foxborough Law Aims to take Alcohol out of Teens' Hands ‎

Voters will decide on social-host bylaw at town meeting.

Adults supporting underage drinking has caught the eye of Foxborough Police Chief Edward O'Leary. Providing alcohol to anyone under 21 is against the law, but some adults believe that supplying alcohol to underage kids in a "controlled" private residence is the more responsible action - claiming that kids are going to drink anyways. Voters at the annual town meeting on May 23 will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the "social-host bylaw" proposal featured on the town warrant. The social-host bylaw proposal would allow police to issue a civil fine of $100 for the first offense and a $300 fine for an additional offense. In addition to the civil fine, police will also have the authority to take criminal action, even if the crime…

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Foxborough Police to Increase Underage Drinking Enforcement

Town Selectmen approved a $5,000 grant for the police department.

Foxborough police have secured a grant to help combat underage drinking in town.  Town selectmen approved a $5,000 grant for the police department to conduct "underage drinking enforcement" in Foxboro. Sgt. Richard Noonan aided in securing the grant for the town. This grant comes after voters approve a $200 fine for public drunkenness at the special town meeting on Monday, March 7; a measure intended to "alter behavior." Foxborough was the first town in Massachusetts to approve a fine for public intoxication. The new fine will take effect once approval is granted at the attorney general’s office, who have yet to review the plan.

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