On Thursday, May 26, Chatham Drug Free will kick-off its Safe Stores initiative, bringing recognition to stores that sell alcohol and tobacco but are consistent in checking IDs and not selling alcohol or tobacco to minors. Chatham Drug Free, Chatham County’s underage substance abuse prevention coalition, completed a series of alcohol purchase surveys over the past few years. Survey results in 2009 and 2010 showed 44% of the time clerks did not ask to see the identification of an over 21-year-old purchaser but, who age tested under the legal drinking age of 21 years old. Now they are trying lower the underage sales rate with the help of such partners as Cruizers, Inc. and Pantry Inc./Kangaroo Express.