Teen alcohol use focus of forums

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published April 02, 2008

TUMWATER – Alcohol-awareness groups and parents gathered Wednesday to discuss changing adult drinking habits — similar to the way tobacco habits have changed — as a way to curb underage alcohol abuse.

"It used to be a joke in the '80s, how much could you drink and drive home," said Washington state Liquor Control Board alcohol awareness manager Tony Masias. "There were efforts to educate about DUI (driving under the influence) that was successful. Seat belt use was very successful. We've never had anything like that about underage drinking."

That was one of the topics of discussion Wednesday at Tumwater High School, where the local group Together had the first of three local town hall meetings on underage alcohol abuse.

Together is a group that advocates for and implements programs to prevent youth violence and substance abuse in Thurston County.

The meetings are part of a national effort to increase awareness of ways to stop underage alcohol use. Nearly 100 meetings will be held throughout Washington, organizers said.

Masias said people who are concerned must start putting pressure on businesses and government to limit the messages that encourage and glamorize alcohol use.

The group discussed the prevalence of alcohol ads on storefronts and in public places, such as festivals that get sponsorship from alcohol companies.

Tumwater Police Det. Jen Kolb also discussed the difficulties that police officers face when dealing with teenage alcohol parties and parents who furnish alcohol.

"If every kid who was caught with alcohol was sent to juvenile court, our juvenile court would only be filled with that," she said.

Kolb said educating minors caught with alcohol — and calling their parents — is the preferred step and is effective most of the time, with arrests reserved mostly for repeat offenders.

Parent Genice Leischner of Rochester, who has six children, said she attended Wednesday's meeting because preventing alcohol use is a big issue for parents.

"There's a lot of good ideas, but it's going to be a lot of work to accomplish anything," she said.

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.