Sheriff Bouchard Warns of Dangers of Teenage Drinking at Parties

Observer Eccentric May 3, 2007

The Oakland County Sheriff, Michael Bouchard, is asking for everyone's help in making this year's prom and graduation season a safe and healthy one for students throughout southeast Michigan. His office urges everyone to support zero tolerance for underage drinking and illegal drug use. Keep an open line of communication with your teen, but be firm in the no-alcohol-use-before-age-21 message you give your student.

As part of the "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" campaign, the sheriff's office wants the public to know the high costs of adults providing alcohol to or condoning alcohol use by their children or any other minor. Parents should never host underage drinking parties or provide alcohol to anyone under 21. It's illegal, unsafe and unhealthy. In fact, the costs of providing alcohol to minors are very high, and they carry significant legal consequences. Parents should familiarize themselves with the laws related to this topic.

  
Parents should know:

Providing alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and up to 60 days in jail.

Pro- viding alcohol to a minor, where the consumption of the alcohol is a direct cause of that person's death is a felony, punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and/ or up to 10 years imprisonment.
Anyone who is a witness to underage drinking or knows of a party hosted by a parent where underage drinking is occurring should report it to the local police department. While you may have the best intentions when hosting a party in a young person's honor, having a gathering where alcohol is available to minors is a big mistake, and could result in your arrest or worse yet, a tragedy resulting in the death or injury of innocent people. Sadly, our area has lost numerous young people after graduation parties just as they are about to embark on the adult future.

According to most city ordinances in Oakland County, a person breaks the law if he or she purchases an alcoholic beverage for, gives, or makes an alcoholic beverage available to a minor.

There are other guidelines to follow when addressing the topic of underage drinking. They include:

Don't allow your student to host or attend a party that is unsupervised by adults.

Call the adult in charge of any party your teen attends. Make sure you are in agreement about what the adult supervision will be.

If you drink, be a good role model in your own use of alcohol.

Talk to your teen about how to say no to risky situations involving alcohol or drugs and still save face with their friends.

Tell your teens that they can call you anytime they are in a risky situation.

Team up and talk with other parents.

Provide opportunities for your student to host safe, alcohol-free parties and activities.