Town hall meeting about underage alcohol use
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 02:45 p.m., March 31, 2008
Updated 02:45 p.m., March 31, 2008
Emporia is among more than 1,300 drug-related coalitions nationwide expected to hold town hall meetings in April in an attempt to change American attitudes and to raise awareness of underage alcohol use.
The meetings are in responses to the “Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking” delivered in October 2007 by Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu, according to information from Teresa Walters, director of Emporians for Drug Awareness.
EDA will sponsor a meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Emporia High School Library.
The presentation, “Canned Energy — an Innocent Buzz?” — will deal with the current fad of energy drinks and the alarming trend of mixing those stimulants with alcohol, which is a depressant.
“This would be like someone driving a car with one foot on the gas pedal and another on the brake!” Walters said in a news release.
Youths surveyed in Emporia reported that the average age of first use of alcohol is about 14 years.
“The earlier young people begin using alcohol, the more likely they are to have alcohol dependence or other problems,” Walters said.
The town hall meeting will include a panel of local experts from mental health and law enforcement professionals who will talk about addiction and what can be done to protect local youths from alcohol-related problems.
The meeting will be open to the public at no charge. Those who attend, however, are encouraged to bring a donation of canned food that will be given to the Salvation Army.
Financing for the meeting is being provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
For more information, call Teresa Walters at 341-2450 or e-mail her at Teresa.Walters@usd253.org.
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Posted by create (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope there is a huge turnout. I would also like to see information put forth about parents/grandparents who think nothing of allowing kids on their property for drinking parties. So many still believe that's it's okay as long as it's on private property. Wrong! Perhaps this is a good time for the sheriff's department to have flyers handed out at this meeting.
Posted by jaredfromsubway (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks to me like if the legal age was dropped to 14, there would be no problem with underage alcohol abuse.
Eat Fresh
Posted by toninj (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In theory this seems like a great effort. However, I have to agree with Kstrebuchet this town hall meeting is not going to change a thing.
It will probably be as poorly attended as the last one, just as all these "parent/community" meetings are. It is lead by a group that is so set in their ways that they are out of touch with our youth and continuously fails to reach out to them.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who gets paid for having this event?
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are you considered an adult at 18 but cant have a beer?
Im sure if you look at the statistics it made such a marginal difference on driving related deaths by passing the 21 age law.
The first state to reverse that law will make so much money off of tourism and alcohol sales.
If you think about it its almost like prohabition but in a smaller amount.
Your not going to stop underage drinking.
Dont bother making a meeting for it, its a waste of time and money.
Worrying less about the people drinking underage and focusing on murders/rapists would be more appropriate... even raising DUI law penalty and reducing the age will be just as fine.
Oh and btw 18-21 year olds are not children dont let the tunnel minded people convince you that they are young children, they are ADULTS.
how would you like it if we raised the drinking age to 80?
Every age group can make just as many poor decisions while drinking as the 18-21 age group.
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PocketAces, It seems like you speak from a younger perspective rather than someone maybe like older than 40. I was elgible to drink in the 70s at 18 and the deaths and injuries were significant. Also, the circle of friends and accessibility of alcoholic beverages dropped to 13 and 14 year olds. Medical information I've reviewed says that a person isn't physically matured until at least 21 and that alcohol will inhibit that development and provide a higher level of impairment at lower consumption levels. When you add that to a demonstrated lack of driving experience, it is an accident waiting to happen, literally. The assaultive behaviors are also a problem. Oh, and I'm waiting for the argument about being old enough to fight a war should allow alcohol consumption. That was the motivating factor during the Vietnam War. I'm sure at some time others will follow the actions of a Wisconsin legislator last year who tried to lower it again to 18. I'm sure there are other opinions but I for one would be quite happy if they wanted to increase the penalities for alcohol consumption and raise the drinking age go 25. There is a difference between a young adult and someone with a few more years on them. There are idiots in all age groups but generally with age, comes wisdom, those who don't generally wind up in jail, treatment or a graveyard.
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You used the term "Young adult". This yet again is another flaw, an ADULT is when you turn 18, you get charged for your crimes and pay the same price as everyone else who is 21, 25,36,55 and so on.
http://youthrights.org/dafaq.php
gg. read and learn.
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The website, states pretty much all my opinions on drinking and why they should lower the drinking age.
Posted by create (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, good post. Also, I agree with your opinion on peer pressure being more effective than meetings, but we have to start somewhere. Perhaps having kids attend the meetings might help a few.
When I was still teaching, it was always heartbreaking on Monday mornings to hear about the drinking bouts that had gone on over the weekend. Of course, you never heard about them on Fridays. Those who did not attend had parents who said no, but unfortunately, they were then ostracized by their peers. To that I can only say, so what? But to a kid, that is the kind of thing that hurts. Strong parenting is still a very good deterrent, and meetings do provide information for parents.
Last, we also need to find ways to punish those who provide the booze to kids.
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"you are still a kid." you assume all 18-21 year olds are immature rampant and out of control and are saying that they are not old enough to make a good decision.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/K...
A child.
A young person.
-not an adult.
"I believe thats in line with talking about underage drinking, ever hear of date rape? drinking is usually involved, ever hear of a drunk driver killing someone? "
Im glad you brought this up,
People of ALL AGE GROUPS are involved in the date rape's and especially drunk driving. Please keep trying to bring these two topics up, i STRONGLY oppose people doing both of these, and if someone does do them he/she of ANY age should face a penalty.
Create, the only way your going to stop underrage drinking is to get rid of alcohol all together or have some kind of electronic on all bodies of people under the age of 21 that monitors blood alcohol level. Seriously how can a parent monitor what a kid is doing at all times. And after they grow up... bam to college they go. Who is to monitor what a 20 year old is doing.
Last, we also need to find ways to punish those who provide the booze to kids.
As of right now if you get caught providing booze, you are already getting punished by the current law.
The solution to this is more police more laws and more taxes. Then after this is done you can start complaining about high costs, its all linked together.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pocketaces,
please understand. i am well more than 21 yrs old. once you get to be my/our ages, you will understand. when i was between the ages of 18 and 20, i felt the way you did also, but it doesn't change anything. the laws are the laws. this is all about responsibility, so choose to show your maturity and obey them, or do otherwise.
remember, they also make drivers licenses available to those of certain ages as well. I'm sure the legislature has it's reasons for doing this as well.
also, if you read the paper with regularity, it does show people being charged with and convicted of "furnishing alcohol to minors" from time to time. i would guess though, that most underaged drinkers don't provide law enforcement with the names and addresses of the people who purchased their beverages for them.
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dhccc6, I could care less about your age, you have just as much right to speak out about what should be done in this world as much as I do. You are stating that you know my age, as I have not stated it therefore you are assuming that I am an 18-20 year old because I am speaking out against the drinking age being lowered to 18. Why should I obey them just because of there age? Lack of logic and the big picture.
also, if you read the paper with regularity, it does show people being charged with and convicted of "furnishing alcohol to minors" from time to time.
Yes as i acknowledged that in this statement:
"As of right now if you get caught providing booze, you are already getting punished by the current law."
The Problem is not drinking.
Its that people always put drinking and driving together and perceive it as evil.
Alright you want to talk about the driving age........... My first question to you is why isnt there a "too old" age to drive?
Posted by PocketAces (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should I obey them just because of his/her own age?
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
aces, you are exactly correct. nobody will ever stop irresponsible, illegal, underage drinking. as for the changing the drinking age to promote tourism....try running that one by the city commission. they have been looking for ways to get tourists here.
and lastly aces, i don't care what age you are. if you want to argue for more responsibilities or privilages for young people everywhere, go ahead. it's an argument most parents have heard for years and i'm sure it will continue for generations to come.
just please, if you drink do it legally and responsibly. show the world you have a valid argument.
Posted by create (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aces, you're right, a parent can't monitor a kid one-hundred percent of the time. But not all kids are drinking. What causes some kids to choose not to join in? Those same kids never seem to join in. Something is causing that. We need to find out what it is.
And yes, irresponsible drinking takes place at all ages. My own sister celebrated her 49th birthday by getting smashed, then got behind the wheel, and finally got a manslaughter conviction for killing a 58-year old grandmother of 4 in a head-on collision. For that she got 10 years in prison, and her driver's license revoked for LIFE. That's what it is in Hawaii. Other states honor that law so she can't drive in any state, but other states don't have nearly the stiff penalties as Hawaii does. I have no problem with any drunk driving penalties; in fact, I believe they should be stiffer.
You and I agree on some points, Aces, but you don't seem to have any suggestions. We can't possibly just give up on this concern because some shoot holes in our arguments.
On the "too old to drive" question, I imagine that will be legislated one of these days. In Hawaii, after age 79, you must take the road test every year. We may see other states adopt similar ordinances as the population ages.
While we can't legislate responsibility or morality, a forum like this one allows people to discuss their concerns at length in the spirit of searching for some kind of solution.
Posted by marebear14 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In Chase County we have had our Town Hall meeting. We had some youth from the community show up. I took my 12 yr old daughter and let her listen to the speakers. I hope she learned something from it. I did a lot of stupid things when I was younger. However I want my children to be better educated than I was, I hope they will not do some of the stupid things that I did. I talk to my kids a lot about drinking and the fact that they will not be old enough to drink until they are 21. We do not keep alcohol in our house so my kids don't have easy access to it that way. I believe a lot of prevention starts with the parents, they should educate their kids about alcohol and what it can do to your brain. The kids should also be made aware that their brains are not fully developed until their about 25, I was not told of any of this when I was a teen. Also if you do a lot of drinking and are an athlete it can effect your performance and not in a good way. Basically adults should not be scared of being honest with with teens and just tell the kids the facts. JMO
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
don't worry tre, we'll be smarter in ace's eyes in about 10 years
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