On Friday November 18th and Thursday December 1st, Morganton Public Safety Investigators conducted an alcohol compliance check in reference to numerous citizen complaints of underage alcohol sales to minors. The compliance check consisted of sending a 19 year old into 40 different stores inside the City limits of Morganton in order to ensure the clerks are following proper protocol in reference to checking appropriate identifications. The 19 year old had his/her NC driver’s license with them at the time of the checks and if asked for identification by the clerk, he/she was instructed to give it to them. Out of the 40 stores, 20 sold to the 19 year old. Citations were issued to the 20 clerks and each clerk has a mandatory court date on 01/04/12. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 2 thousand teenage drivers are killed every year in alcohol related accidents which does not include others who have died or were seriously injured during teenage alcohol related accidents. The total number of deaths is well over 6,000 per year. Morganton Public Safety is trying to do their part in reducing these unnecessary accidents.