Ames police have a message for underage drinkers: Watch out. “Cops in Shops” are out and swinging.

Cops in Shops is a police program designed to catch underage alcohol buyers and store employees who sell alcohol to minors.

The program, funded by a federal grant, pays police officers to work overtime in Ames stores that sell alcohol. The officers pose as customers and employees, and when they see anything that looks “suspicious,” like a younger person attempting to purchase alcohol, they investigate.

“What we hope is that underage people realize that there is no confident way to go out and buy alcohol,” said Sgt. Craig Reid.

Cops in Shops has been touted as a major reason alcohol citations rose more than 50 percent in 1996. Reid said Ames is the only city in the state with the program.

He said the program is a partnership between the federal government and the liquor industry, which provides training for police officers on catching underage drinkers.

In Ames, 32 stores and 14 officers are involved with the program, including most major grocery stores.

“Hopefully [underage] people will understand not to do it, and maybe this is something that will make the streets safer, also,” said Mike Lee, manager of Cub Food Store.

The Keg Shop on Welch Avenue also participates.

“Whether this is good or bad news for business, it’s good for what it stands for. It’s just doing the right thing,” said Chuck Connors, manager of The Keg Shop.

When working, police officers look for possible underage buyers, people providing to minors, fake IDs and “tapping” — a police word for when underage drinkers tap on older people’s shoulders and ask them if they will buy alcohol for them.

Reid said this is one of the biggest problems on campus today, and that these “tappers” can usually find someone to buy for them in 10 or 15 minutes.

“We’ve even had situations where people that are 15 years old go up to our police officers [posing as customers] and ask them to buy a six-pack or something for them,” Reid said.

Some students — mostly those 21 and over — say they don’t have a problem with the program. And some — mostly those under 21 — say it sounds a lot like entrapment.

But police say they’ve got plenty of success stories under their belts to validate continuing the program.

Tom Vigdal, an 18-year-old freshman in biology, used to buy alcohol at least once or twice a week with his fake ID. But after a close encounter with police, he has “cut down.”

“I’ve been in a tense situation before while buying. It’s cut down on where I buy. I don’t like doing it anymore because I know I can get caught,” Vigdal said.

Still, Vigdal isn’t planning to avoid alcohol until he’s 21.

Vigdal merely said he plans to have another person with a fake ID or someone that is 21 buy alcohol for him because of the increased risks.

“It’s easy to find someone old enough to buy, and it’s safer,” Vigdal said. “After some more busts come up, people will either cut down, or the fakes will get better.”

But Reid said the fear of being arrested is beginning to catch on.

“This is something that all the stores are getting involved in. You just never know if you’ll be arrested or not. You’ll never know,” he said.