OCEANPORT – Kids carrying in adult beverages and underage alcohol consumption will not be tolerated at the 145th running of the Haskell Invitational, according to borough Chief of Police Michael P. Kelly.
Kelly said local authorities will crack down on underage drinking attempts after a 2018 event exhausted local and state police resources.
“This is a drain on the units we have in place. Not only are we responsible for stopping the underage individuals, but because they are juveniles we then have to wait with them until their parents show up. We even had a few cases of taking them to the hospital last year. It’s a burden,” Kelly said.
Kelly said an updated plan will be implemented when the $1 million stakes race takes over Monmouth Park Saturday, July 20.
New Jersey state Alcoholic Beverage Control officers will be checking identification cards and coolers at all entrances to the park and wrist bands will be given to those who are of legal drinking age.
Additionally, undercover officers will be patrolling the historic racing venue throughout the day to quell any disturbances and identify those who are impaired.
“Having to commit resources to this is getting us away from our primary function, which is public safety of the thousands of park patrons. To the kids who are thinking of trying it, and to the parents of those kids, it will not be tolerated,” Kelly said.
