Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced today that the New Mexico Department of Children, Youth, and Families has been awarded $360,000 to help enforce underage drinking laws.

The funds will be used for innovative programs, evidence-based prevention and education strategies; statewide enforcement activities as well as media campaigns, public information initiatives and merchant education.

"This federal funding will be put to good use to protect our state's youth from the dangerous effects of underage drinking," said Bingaman.

The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.