They wanted the kids to go to church, and I let them out. Judge Albert and Geauga County Sheriff George Simmons gave a series of speeches to about 1,600 Amish adults and teens on drinking's dangers and penalties. The speeches featured an Amish man from Wooster who was an alcoholic. After the talks, the number of arrests trailed off until last summer, said John Hiscox, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. The drinking takes place during the warm months at bonfire parties that can attract up to 200 youths.
Police often rely on tips to find the parties because most are hidden on rural, private farms.
Sheriff's deputies also have been following buggies whenever they see a large number being driven by teens on the weekend. Sometimes the Amish youths even show authorities the beer in the buggy, Mr. Hiscox said. They don't seem to think they're doing anything wrong. In the past, stores often would let Amish buy alcohol without showing any identification because they don't have driver's licenses, Mr. Easthon said. Now stores and the town's two bars are supposed to ask for a state identification card for any Amish person who looks underage, he said.