Coordinated nationally by the non-profit Century Council, Cops in Shops is now in 38 states.

Cops began appearing in shops in 1993, when a dozen states tightened their liquor laws to try to cut down on underage drinking.

Federal money accounts for most of the program's funding.

In Austin, Texas, for example, the government chipped in more than $300,000, while the state was responsible for a third of that total.

But Cambridge, for a host of reasons, foots the majority of its own bill.

"A lot of it is coming out of our own budget here in the police department," Pasquerello says.

That disturbs Cantabrigians, like Store 24's Quikstrom, who say taxpayer money would be better spent protecting his family.

"To worry about some kid buying cigarettes and not about a bunch of crack dealers on the street..." he says, a bit bemused.

But as Cambridge's crime rates continue to decline, quality of life issues like underage drinking become more important, Pasquarello said.

Recent Stings

The most recent sweep, which took place in early June, netted several citations and at least one arrest.

"The actual person who was trying to buy was under 21," Scali said. "He's a 20-year-old Cantabrigian; he failed to appear [in court] on September 11th and a warrant was issued for his arrest," he said.

"A lot of times, judges don't take these things too seriously," Scali says. Scali, along with clerk magistrates at the Middlesex Country District Attorney's office, labored to come up with innovative ways of reforming the mostly first-time violators.

In addition to a fine, many wind up with several dozen hours of community service.

"It's been very successful," Scali said. "We have not come in with hoards of people, but it's been successful."