Keep teens sober, parents urged

Campaign aims to prevent underage drinking this season

By Pat Reavy
Deseret Morning News
Published: Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 12:38 p.m. MST
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With Christmas and New Year's just around the corner, there are sure to be many holiday parties in Utah between now and the end of the year. Which means there is also an annual list of holiday party reminders law enforcers want residents to keep in mind.

One of those reminders was delivered to parents Friday.

"Parents, your children will listen to you. You are the biggest influence in their lives," said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

Shurtleff joined Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank and Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Chairman Larry Lunt Friday at the Avenues State Liquor Store to kick off a new campaign aimed at preventing underage drinking this holiday season.

The "We Don't Serve Teens" campaign is the latest from the Century Council, a non-profit organization funded by distillers. Their slogan, "We Don't Serve Teens." will be posted at all liquor stores in the state and have an accompanying television spot running nationally.

Although a sign telling people that teens won't be served at a liquor store seems like a no brainer, Shurtleff said the message itself has deeper meaning.

"We want parents to say the same thing," he said.

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Only 7 percent of teens illegally obtain their alcohol at liquor stores either with fake IDs or getting an adult to buy for them, according to the Century Council. Seventeen percent of adults, however, believe it is acceptable for parents to provide alcohol to their teenagers in their own home. Shurtleff said some parents believe as long as their children aren't on the road and under their supervision, it's OK for their teenagers to drink.

Not so, said Shurtleff.

"It is unsafe, it is irresponsible, it is illegal," he said.

The Century Council hopes parents will follow the "We Don't Serve Teens" campaign as tightly as liquor stores.

"Turning a blind eye is as irresponsible as putting a drink in their hands," said Dana Fudurich of the council. "We believe the key is knowing where youth obtain the alcohol they drink."

Law enforcers say the campaign is only one front in the attack on underage drinking. There are many other ways alcohol is getting into the hands of minors.

"They obtain it from a bunch of different sources, very creative ways," said Burbank.

Lunt, commenting that the state had "a high moral duty to educate the public" on underage drinking, said the commission would be attacking the problem from another front this coming legislative session. The commission will back a bill, he said, that would suspend the driver's license of any juvenile caught trying to use a fake ID for such purposes and buying alcohol.

Also Friday, law enforcement agencies across Salt Lake County, in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, launched a DUI/seat belt enforcement effort. From now until the end of the year, overtime shifts will be available to Utah Highway Patrol troopers and officers from local cities to conduct DUI saturation patrols and to crack down on seat belt violations.

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

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