chautauqua county underage drinking task force

Every drop of alcohol consumed by someone underage comes somewhere along the line from an adult, whether by intent or by negligence. The Chautauqua County Underage Drinking Task Force, with the talents of local, county and state law enforcement, is working to protect our kids and their futures by preventing underage drinking. Every adult determined to have facilitated underage drinking is subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.

The UDTF has brochures with important information that you can share with others in our community. The UDTF needs your help. If you would like more information, please email us at info@casacweb.org.

download brochure 1 (PDF, 1.3 MB) 

download brochure 2 (PDF, 96 KB) 

report underage drinking New York State Underage Drinking Hotline 1-866-UNDER21 1-866-863-3721

Big beer companies pretend not to target youth, while their slick, teen-friendly marketing saturates TV, the Internet, sporting events, magazines—everywhere. And beer executives use their lobbying muscle to block proven strategies that reduce underage drinking. Why? Because up to 20% of their profits come from underage consumption.

Let's fight back. Demand effective alcohol policies from our elected leaders, and tell your friends and colleagues too.

Over 5,000 young people die each year from alcohol-related causes—a sobering problem. Meanwhile, most elected leaders, influenced by alcohol industry lobbyists and contributions, have done little to prevent this tragedy. It's time to address this problem with proven polices that curb underage drinking.

The Institute of Medicine recommends science-based policies that work. CASAC wants to make those policies a reality. Tell politicians that it's time to Get Serious about alcohol policies that save kids' lives.

Send this letter to:
• Your Governor
• Your State Legislative Representatives

I'm concerned about underage drinking. The time has come to get serious about this issue and adopt policies that protect our children.

I support common-sense, research-based measures that will help reduce underage drinking, including:

• Increasing alcohol prices through taxes, particularly on beer;
• Limiting alcohol advertising and marketing targeted at young people;
• Implementing a national media campaign that counters alcohol industry messages and uses social marketing to affect attitudes and behavior;
• Adopting and enforcing laws to prevent alcohol-related deaths and injuries among young people;
• Promoting alcohol free events for kids;
• Expanding counseling and support for kids, especially those with addicted parents.

These and other measures are recommended by The Institute of Medicine: www.jointogether.org/IOM.

I strongly urge you to make these policies a priority at the state and local level. Thank you.

Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]

Does my state hold parents accountable for providing alcohol to teens?

The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) has information by state on underage drinking as well as information about social host laws.

The Marin Institute has a section on laws that links to the 60 minute video on parents letting their kids drink at home because it is "safer."

For more information on the status of your state on underage drinking laws, visit Join Together's Key Issues page and click on your state.

What do I say to parents who argue that providing alcohol to teens teaches them to drink safely?

To address the question of parental approval of underage drinking, this resource from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, Parental Disapproval of Youth Substance Use (PDF) summarizes the research behind parents' influence on the behavior of their children.

An American Medical Association poll show teenagers, especially girls, obtain alcohol easily from friends and family. View the findings from this poll and download a poster designed for use in physician's offices on this topic.

This common myth may be brought up at the town meeting: In many European countries drinking is part of family life; therefore teenagers drink responsibly in Europe compared to the United States.

This statement is false. The Youth Drinking Rates and Problems report (PDF) shows that the underage binge drinking rate in the United States is in the middle of the range of all European countries, and it is lower than in the countries that have the lowest legal ages.

Parties held by teenagers have become a major concern in our community!

Did you know?

• If alcoholic beverages are given to a person under the age of 21 in your home or on your property you may be charged with a crime.

• If your child permits underage drinking he/she may be charged with a crime.

• If there is unreasonable noise or disorderly conduct in your home or on your property you may be charged with a crime.

• If there is any personal injury, damage to property or crime committed anywhere and it is found to be related to underage drinking in your home or on your property you may be charged with a crime.

civil liability

You may be sued for any injuries and/or damages caused to anyone, anything, anywhere, at any time, if such injuries and/or damages are determined to be related to any underage drinking which may have taken place in your home or on your property.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not pay for losses incurred during the commission of a crime. Given that underage drinking in your home or on your property may be determined to be the result of you having committed a crime, you are at the risk of losing everything you own and having your wages garnished.

criminal liability

In addition to the devastation of being sued, a homeowner and a property owner may also face criminal charges resulting from the facilitation of underage drinking. Upon conviction, an adult will be a convicted criminal for life along with whatever penalty the court may impose. The New York State Penal Code states:

• Section 260.10: Endangering the welfare of a child is a crime punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.

• Section 260.20: Unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree is a crime punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.

• Section 260.45: Criminal nuisance in the second degree is a crime punishable by up to three months in jail and/or fine up to $500.

facts about alcohol

What are our kids doing?

• They are drinking in record numbers.

• The average age they begin is only 12 years old.

• 70% of youth drinking are binging (5 or more drinks).

• 91% of parents of binging kids don’t suspect.

• Some middle schoolers drink and then engage in group sex.

What is alcohol doing to our kids?

• Alcohol is killing six times as many of our kids as are all other drugs combined.

• Of all 10-24 year old deaths, 73.6% are alcohol related.

• 90% of all college campus rapes are alcohol related.

• 95% of all campus violence is alcohol related.

• 85% of all college students surveyed report having established their drinking patterns before entering college.

• Significantly reducing school performance.

• Disrupting family cohesion.

• Generating disruptive, dangerous and unlawful behaviors.

Is alcohol damaging kids’ brains?

• Kids brains tend to react to alcohol with addiction, while adult brains tend not to:

  • 96% of all alcoholics began underage.

  • Virtually all drug addicts began with underage drinking.

• Regular alcohol use is permanently damaging kids brains, causing cognitive impairments.

• Alcohol used by kids obstructs part of the functional development of the frontal lobe of their brains.

• Binging is more likely to cause death by over-dosing a kid’s brain than an adult’s brain.

Sources:
Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council (CASAC)
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD)
Department of Health and Human Services
Loosening the Grip: A Handbook of Alcohol Information by Jean Kinney (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Institute of Medicine—National Research Council
Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals
Fredonia State University
Local Chautauqua County Police
Duke University research

what can parents or guardians do?

• Understand that underage drinking is a tradition, one which is illegal and must be stopped.

• Understand that it is a “rite of passage”; a passage to a devastating quality of life, brain damage and death.

• Understand that drinking alcohol under the age of 21 is prohibited by law, with extremely limited exceptions.

• See to it your kids don’t drink—you have the power.

• Do not tolerate unsupervised parties.

• In the event of a supervised party, ensure it is responsibly supervised with alcohol effectively prohibited.

• See to it that your kids realize that drinking is not a choice for them and that they understand why it is prohibited.

• Always know where your kids are.

• Prevent your kids from attending a function, activity or facility where alcohol may be available to them.

• Know the typical behaviors of those with whom your kids hang out.

• Consider the powerful influence of your own behavior on your kids.

what can the community do?

• Support your police.

• If underage drinking may be in progress, call 9-1-1.

• Anyone aware of a planned party should call the NYS Underage Drinking Hotline (you can remain anonymous): 1-866-UNDER 21 (1-866-863-3721).

• Develop and encourage supervised teen activities.

Endorsed by the following law enforcement:

Silver Creek Police Dept.
Dunkirk Police Dept.
Fredonia Police Dept.
SUNY Fredonia Campus Police Dept.
Westfield Police Dept.
Jamestown Police Dept.
Lakewood/Busti Police Dept.
Ellicott Police Dept.
Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office
New York State Police
NY State Liquor Authority Enforcement Bureau