In The NewsWe Have Plenty To Worry About With Underage Drinking
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Friday November 21, 2008
Westerly Sun Letters to the EditorIt has been nearly three decades since states began raising the minimum drinking age to reduce underage drinking and its tragic consequences. These laws along with education by the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force and enforcement by police have had a significant impact in saving young lives. This is good news, and we are all relieved these actions have saved many young lives.
However, I'm writing to let everyone in our community know that as police officers we will continue our strenuous enforcement of these laws so that young lives will continue to be saved right here in Westerly.
Now for the bad news.
In spite of these efforts, studies show that underage drinking is still prevalent across the country and especially here in Rhode Island, as we're all too painfully aware. According to state and federal education, health and law enforcement studies: Alcohol is the most common - and accessible - drug used among teens. Indeed, 80 percent say they drank before their senior year.
On average, 8 teens die in the U.S. every day in alcohol-related car crashes and nine out of 10 teen car accidents involved alcohol use.
The average age when kids say they first tried alcohol is 12.
The state SALT survey reported that 30 days before taking the survey: 25 percent of eighth graders, 40 percent of 10th graders and 61 percent of seniors reported drinking.
Almost 65 percent of the students who drink buy their own alcoholic beverages.
And perhaps most telling, 70 percent of parents of 15 and 16-year-olds say they would be "very worried" if their child had been drunk and only 10 percent believe that their kids have ever been drunk.
As we approach the time of year when many of our young people will be attending football and holiday parties, I want everyone in the community to know that our police department will be especially diligent in trying to keep alcohol out of the hands of kids. And when we do find kids with alcohol, we will enforce the laws of our state strictly and fairly, every time.
If you'd like to learn more about how we can all work together to reduce underage drinking in Westerly, please contact myself, or the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force.
Edward A. Mello Chief of Police Westerly Police Department