As part of the initiative, adolescents take part in local stings with police outside liquor stores to catch adults who agree to buy alcohol for minors. Adults who are found guilty face fines of $2,000.

Chelsea Police Captain Brian Kyes said the stings, which police refer to as "shoulder-tap surveys," will continue for the next four to five years.

According to coalition member Amy Harris of the Chelsea Alcohol/Substance Abuse Program, underage drinking was identified in a study conducted by the coalition as the most serious problem affecting Chelsea youth.

"What we're addressing is a science-based model developed through the University of Minnesota called Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol. It's basically a community-organizing program designed to reduce access to alcohol by changing community policies and practices," Harris said. "One of the practices we're looking at right now is the older people buying alcohol for young people. The research shows that when access is easy, alcohol consumption increases, and when access is less easy, the consumption goes down."

The coalition is also receiving support from the Chelsea School Committee, which is holding a Nov. 9 summit to discuss the results of the state's 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Community members, leaders, parents, and school personnel will be attending the conference.

School Committee member Morrie Seigal said the study's results "shook us up a bit" in terms of alcohol and other drug use among students.

"We were aware that our kids -- like all high schools, because Chelsea is not the only one with this problem -- too many of our kids are involved with drugs and alcohol, so it's not something new," Seigal said. "What the school committee wants to do is ask the community to help us intensify the fight against these evils."

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