Topeka, Kansas (WIBW) - Underage drinking prevention has become a major focus with not only the District Attorneys Office, but also Topeka Police and the Shawnee County Sheriffs office.

When asked about minor in possession arrests, Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor said, "Our numbers right now for 2008 on those filings...there were 73 minors in consumption. Our projections for 2009 will be over 130. So you're looking at about an 83% increase there. So it's pretty substantial both on our law enforcement participation as well as the DAs office."

Social hosting is also a problem where sometimes parents feel they're doing the right thing by keeping their underage child and their friends in the house and allowing them to drink. But that is illegal and Taylor says can lead to bigger problems because often times the teams leave the house.

Topeka Police are working with area hotel and motel operators to step up efforts in an effort to make sure they are not renting rooms to people who are clearly underage. They often lead to hotel parties where drinking takes place. They've also stepped up enforcement of liquor stores selling to minors.

The TPD also works with pre-teens in educational efforts to try to convince them before they feel the peer pressure of drinking that it leads to many bad things. This summer they held an event downtown where area kids could drive with "drunk goggles" to see just how a couple drinks can effect your perception.

For more details and underage drinking prevention tips head to www.TeenThinking.org.