Underage drinking is a problem in many communities in Wisconsin and in the U.S. But over the last two weeks, the La Crosse police department has been checking area businesses to make sure they're not selling to minors…but the results, are not what officers were hoping or.

La Crosse has its fair share of bars and other places that sell alcohol. Over the course of the last two weeks La Crosse police checked more than 50 bars and businesses to make sure minors aren't buying liquor in La Crosse.

"We are watching for this. It is important to the police department and the community to make sure we're keeping alcohol out of the hands of people who aren't 21," says La Crosse police captain Robert Abraham.

Abraham says the goal is to have every business turn minors away. But 17 businesses sold to minors, and were ticketed.

"This first initial round, the numbers are showing that we are below 79%, in the low 70s but we're hoping we can turn it around."

The police department uses 18- and 19-year-old volunteers who use their actual I.D.'s to try and buy alcohol. Officers say that I.D. itself should help workers avoid a costly ticket.

"One of the things that the state of Wisconsin has done to make identifying people under the age of 21 more easy is putting it in vertical formatted drivers license, so that the people that have a vertically formatted [license] it should be a red flag right off the bat."

Alvin Muenzenberger says his business has been checked twice since the program started. He even gives employees bonuses to catch underage kids trying to buy.

"It's a bigger problem than anyone realizes because years ago we use to pay $25 to each bouncer who caught a false I.D.," he says.

Abraham says the program has been successful and the department is always changing procedures to try and make it more effective.

"Ask for an I.D. For anyone who looks under 30, if that's your establishment's policy it shouldn't be a problem to pass the compliance checks. It's really the responsible thing to do."

Tickets for selling liquor to a minor can cost a business up to $348 along with the suspension of their liquor license.