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Keeping alcohol out of kids’ hands

Here’s a great editorial that appeared in the Greeley Tribune, concerning underage drinking in Weld County. It’s a problem that can be solved if every parent, alcohol retailer, restaurant establishment and community member takes responsibility for making sure alcohol isn’t accessible to those under 21.

Tribune Opinion: Keeping alcohol out of kids’ hands

Community must take some responsibility for underage drinking
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A Fort Lupton woman is charged with 19 felony counts after police allegedly broke up a party at her home where dozens of minors were drinking alcohol. A Greeley liquor store is cited for selling liquor to three underage teens, whom then allegedly took it to a party where an 18-year-old Greeley woman was later found dead.

These kind of headlines have been all too frequent these past several weeks. It shows we still have a way to go in educating adults and children about alcohol use and abuse.

Felicia Lynn Gabel, 40, of Fort Lupton, has been arrested on suspicion of allowing her underage daughters to throw a party and collect money at the door for booze, which she allegedly provided.

Zip Mart Discount Liquor at 1500 8th Ave. was cited for selling four 30-packs of beer to three underage males without asking for identification. The beer reportedly ended up at the party where Dallas Lee Bradford lived. Bradford was found dead at the home the next day. Toxicology reports haven’t been released yet on her death, but investigators suspect a combination of alcohol and drugs may have contributed.

Sometimes it’s easy to lull ourselves into thinking these things don’t happen anymore. Parents don’t really buy booze for their kids. Liquor store clerks and bartenders always card patrons.

While alcohol use and abuse is better among teens than it was several decades ago, it is still a problem, and education and diligence are needed to make sure our children are protected.

Organizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving, have made strides over the years to get laws passed that make penalties for adults who provide liquor to children more severe. Local organizations have also worked to provide education and training for adults who work in the liquor industry or those who work with children.

Responsible Alcohol Retailers of Weld County has provided training to liquor store clerks and bartenders on how to spot fake identification and how to handle drunk patrons. They have worked to find ways to transport patrons who have had too much to drink and have been successful in keeping alcohol out of the hands of some young people.

Can we ultimately stop kids from using and abusing alcohol? Probably not. But it’s still a fight worth fighting.

Adults need to model good behavior for children. Parents should never ever think it’s OK to provide alcohol for their own children, or the friends of their children. Not only can they face severe legal repercussions, but it’s simply bad parenting behavior.

Parents can’t look the other way if they suspect their kids are drinking or using drugs. Talk to your kids about their behavior. Make sure they know the legal, personal and health consequences of underage drinking.

Liquor stores and bars must continue good training for employees, and have a zero-tolerance policy for adults who are caught buying alcohol for those underage. Law and court officials must also continue to arrest minors found in possession of alcohol and adults who provide alcohol to minors, and prosecute these cases aggressively.

It takes an entire community to address the issue of underage alcohol and drug abuse. If you are aware of teens drinking or using drugs, report it. You might be a bad guy for a moment in they eyes of the youth, but ultimately, reporting these activities makes you the good guy.