At the BCS championship game in Miami, 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.