Is everybody having a real good time?

“Sumer is icumin in” and that means lots of good times, especially for kids. Once the warm days come, the beaches beckon and so do, in these parts, the big woods, the tall timber, the back and beyond.

Why the woods? Simple. Kids who are inclined to want to do this head to the trees to get shitfaced, puke on your shoes drunk, without hassles from parents, and especially cops. It’s the wide world of teenage binge drinking without impediment, and such practices are very much the vogue today.

Of course the manufacturers and purveyors of potent potables, not to mention governments that glean huge tax revenues from alcoholic beverages are delighted with such behavior by youngsters as they head off on a course towards chronic alcoholism, rape, violence, sometimes murder, and they have to be lying if they deny it. If the fashion of teenage binge drinking were a source of distress, they’d do something about it. At least I think they would.

The only people who seem to hate the way this is going are parents (sometimes), cops, medical practitioners, emergency personnel and those who happen to inadvertently cross the path of a gang of out-of-control boozed up kids late on a Saturday night.

In the context of the above, I wish to share some thoughts that have arisen from my experiences as a member of the Comox Valley Community Drug Strategy Committee, as an addictions counsellor, and as a long-time journalist. Currently the Drug Strategy Committee has come to realize we have been negligent in not devoting sufficient direction to what is statistically the most lethal drug of all. As follows are some suggestions that arise from my own professional and community service experience.

While parents are justifiably frightened by the possibility of a child becoming involved with illicit street and party drugs, they often neglect to consider that alcohol remains the not only the drug of choice for many young persons, but that juvenile alcohol abuse is a distressingly growing phenomenon.

Health care providers, not only in this country, but worldwide, are becoming increasingly distressed by the ubiquity of alcohol consumption among the young. Indeed, the United Nations recently decried the fact that the alcohol industry seems increasingly geared towards enticing the young with its beer advertising especially, and the proliferation of so-called 'pop' beverages, which are especially favoured by young females.

Likewise, a British survey polling young females on vacation found it to be
common practice to consume on a seven-day jaunt, the same amount of alcohol
that might (by a normal drinker) be imbibed in a five-week period. Remember, even though we consider alcohol to be a 'legal' drug, it is still a hugely addictive drug, and for minors it is not legal for consumption in any other form than sacramental wine.

Booze, by the same token, is not going to go away. Nor should it for the 80 percent of those who indulge who are reasonable drinkers. But there are steps that might be taken to put the matter of liquor consumption into healthy perspective with the young. I suggest the following:


1. Drastically increase the penalties for bootlegging offences to at least
a $1,000 fine for a first offence, and significant jail time for subsequent
offences.

2. Consider returning the legal drinking age in the province to 21, as has been done in all US states.

3. Render the providing of alcohol to minors, including by the parents
within the home (except for religious or ceremonial purposes) as subject to
the same laws as bootlegging.

4. Any minor involved in an accident, regardless of how insignificant, where
alcohol consumption has been a factor should lose his or her licence until
age 21.

5. Make alcohol less of a feature in the home environment. Not all festive
occasions need to involve alcohol consumption, even by adults. Set an example.

6. If a parent or parents have a drinking problem, then they must address that
problem. Either get outside help (if the problem is severe enough), or drastically limit consumption. Parental example has a significant role in influencing youthful attitudes to intoxicants.

7. Parents or guardians should never regard youthful transgressions with alcohol as 'unimportant.' If a child is abusing alcohol, then the matter is 'always' serious. And never fall into the trap of feeling a sense of relief because the substance was "just booze, and not drugs."

8. If alcohol is a problem in the home, and a young person expresses his or her concern to you -- as a friend, relative, teacher, pastor or counsellor -- then encourage the young person to address the concerns to the parents (if possible), and to also get involved in Alateen. Keep in touch with the young person.

9. Any school programs that look to discussions on drugs should also address alcohol abuse in a frank and candid manner. Make available to students complete information on alcohol abuse and its consequences. And be as draconian as hell in any discussion on drinking and driving.

10. Don't pussyfoot! Be frank and graphic in your discussions. Booze kills kids by the scores in this province and country, and it's horrifying to think that a young person on the verge of adulthood should make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of making a terrible judgment call, getting loaded with a bunch of friends at a summer beach party, and then driving home. Your role, by the way, is to never-ever drink and drive yourself.