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CHARLOTTE – Underage drinking is in the spotlight in Charlotte this week, after a new report highlighting the results of an undercover operation was released by the Charlotte Drug Free Coalition.

In the operation, young-looking adults were sent into supermarkets, bars and convenience stores on a mission to buy alcohol. The report shows the most progress was made among supermarkets, who have become more diligent in checking identification over the past three years; while convenience stores were shown to be one of the largest violators, recommending a special initiative to educate workers on the need to strictly enforce the ban on alcohol sales to minors.

In all, the report shows an overall 18 percent drop in businesses selling alcohol to minors. The Drug Free Coalition says that decrease isn’t enough to save lives.

“The number of people dying from excessive blood alcohol is increasing, and it's a serious problem particularly at the university level but also the high school kids,” explained Dr. Paul Friday, a member of the coalition. “It is a social problem, and it’s a social problem because of the numbers of young people who drive, get into accidents and are killed as a result of underage drinking.”

The businesses that sold alcohol to minors received a phone call from the coalition. The findings will be turned over to Alcohol Law Enforcement.