Underage drinking remains a serious problem

Underage drinking is a serious problem — and getting worse

When police are called to a party or other event where minors are in possession of or have consumed alcoholic beverages, enforcement action is sometimes met with scorn or ridicule – not by the underage drinkers, but by a small minority of parents or guardians.

A review of some cold, sobering (pun intended) facts should underscore the consequences of underage drinking.

More than 5 million young people under the age of 21 drink alcohol to excess. “Excess” meaning five or more drinks in a row more than once a week.

The most frequently abused drug by high school seniors is alcohol. The average age in America for a girl’s first drink is 13. You might be surprised to learn that the average age of an American boy to take his first drink is 11. I will provide my own opinion on underage drinking: If you store alcohol in your house, even if you have a locked liquor cabinet, your children are already drinking.

Alcohol is a contributing factor in suicides and homicides in young people. More than half of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students can be attributed to alcohol abuse.

Almost half of all vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers, can be attributed to underage drinking. If 20 soldiers were killed in Iraq each week, there would be massive demonstrations across the country. However, this figure seems to be acceptable when it comes to the carnage brought about by underage drinking and driving on U.S. highways. Where is the outrage? There is none.

Most parents and guardians are supportive of the police whenever enforcement action is taken.

If you suspect your child of drinking alcoholic beverages, call the police or bring your child to the police station. We can administer a portable breath test and help you choose an appropriate disciplinary action. In the case of underage drinking, an ounce of prevention is better than a ton of disaster.

source: Las Vegas Sun