By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Summer is the time for young people to celebrate and many do, with the help of alcohol – but it is possible to have a good time without resorting to beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
That’s the message that the Montgomery-Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance and the Montgomery Township Police Department wants to get across to teenagers and their parents.
"Too many people think underage drinking is harmless, or even worse that it is acceptable if parents take the car keys away from the teens," said Devangi Patel, the coordinator for the Montgomery-Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance.
"Every year, we hear about teens dying or suffering from alcohol poisoning, sexual assault, cyber bullying and drowning that occur after adults provide alcohol to them," Patel said.
No one has the right to endanger the welfare of someone else’s child by supplying them with alcohol, Patel added.
Police Capt. Thomas Wain concurred, and said the Police Department takes the issue of underage drinking – and the adults who sell or serve alcoholic beverages to them – very seriously.
Offering or making available alcoholic beverages to underage persons is a disorderly persons violation, Wain said. This includes enticing or encouraging that person to drink an alcoholic beverage, Wain said.
Parents should know that taking away the car keys does not solve the problem.
At least six young people under the age of 21 years old die every day from non-driving alcohol-related causes, such as alcohol poisoning, falls, burns, drowning, homicide and suicide, according to the Montgomery Township Health Department.
Young people between 12 years old and 20 years old drink 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in this country, and studies have shown that alcohol consumption by adolescents impairs their intellectual development and may result in permanent brain damage.
Consequences of underage drinking do not stop at impaired intellectual development, according to the Health Department. Poor coping skills and decision making, as well as memory problems, may result.
Unwanted, unplanned and unprotected sexual activity may occur, along with physical and sexual assault. Underage drinking may lead to drug abuse, death from alcohol poisoning or unintentional injuries.
A conviction for underage drinking becomes part of an adolescent’s permanent criminal record, and it will appear on criminal background checks performed by schools and employers.
But it is possible for parents to avoid becoming part of the problem by taking a tough stance on the issue. Parents can host alcoholic-free events, by themselves or with other parents.
Get to know your child’s friends and their parents, and if your child is planning to attend a party at a friend’s home, check with the parents to ensure that alcohol will not be served.
Parents should stay home when their child hosts a party, and observe the activities. If someone brings alcohol to the party, confiscate it. Underage drinking should be reported to the Montgomery Township Police Department immediately.
And encourage parents and young people to call 911 if someone needs medical help because of binge drinking or alcohol poisoning. State law protects the caller from prosecution.
