Editorial-June 1, 2006

Parents must stand against teen drinking

By: Mae Rhine
   South Hunterdon is doing the right thing by using strict measures — the use of a Breathalyzer — to keep out students who have been drinking from the prom tomorrow night.
   It seems to us many parents aren’t taking responsibility when it comes to dealing with underage drinking.
   Case in point: Only 25 people showed up for an underage drinking forum May 16. Officials were hoping 10 times that number would show up, and that the community, along with school officials and law enforcement personnel, could come up with a plan to curb the abuse.
   But most of those at the meeting were educators and school officials; people who already know there is a problem and are taking steps to combat it.
   Let’s look at some of the numbers.
   A recent survey of 240 of the 333 students at South found 21 percent of 11th- and 12th-graders drink alcohol before attending school events. Twenty-two percent of students the same age drink during school events.
   In addition, 37 percent drink at home with their parents’ knowledge. Forty-three percent drink at home, and their parents don’t know it.
   Aren’t these numbers scary enough to catapult parents to action? Or are parents saying "At least my kid doesn’t do drugs" or "At least my kids are home and not driving."
   These are poor excuses. Underage drinking is a problem and illegal.
   And alcohol use at a young age can cause problems later on, including alcoholism or other addictions to other drugs.
   It’s not up to school officials and law enforcement to take care of the problem. They are doing all they can within the law.
   It’s up to parents to take as firm a stand as South Hunterdon and put a cork in the problem right not.
   Your children will thank you later.