Police crackdown in Cumberland County targets teen drinking
A substance-abuse prevention group offers Cumberland County police agencies tools to help detect and break up underage parties.
By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies recently got wind of an underage drinking party at a gravel pit in the New Gloucester area.
WAYS TO DISCOURAGE TEEN DRINKING
ADVICE FOR parents from 21 Reasons, a substance-abuse prevention group:
• Limit access to alcohol by locking it up.
• Network with the parents of your child’s friends.
• Set rules and enforce them with consequences.
• Check in with teens, find out where they will be and if there is adult supervision.
• Stay up until the kids come home and check on them when they arrive.
Organizers had replaced a cable lock with their own, so the entrance to the pit looked secure, but partiers could drive in.
The creativity didn’t stop the party from being broken up, and some youths were ordered to appear in court.
“A summons is a lot better than the alternative,” said Cumberland County Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce. “If we don’t get involved, we’re apt to be making death notifications because a youth started drinking and couldn’t make good decisions.”
The substance-abuse prevention task force 21 Reasons has launched a cooperative effort with Cumberland County’s police agencies to target underage drinking parties as school winds down and summer starts up.
The group provided each department with a blue satchel dubbed the “Party Patrol Kit.” Inside are various tools police can use to crack down on parties, with a goal of sanctioning the adults who make them possible.
“It’s not about getting the kids in trouble,” said Jo Morrissey, assistant project director for 21 Reasons. “It’s about making sure parents or adults in the community understand it’s illegal to supply alcohol to children or a place for children to consume alcohol.
“You want to supply them with alternative activities, parental monitoring, clear rules that are enforced with consequences,” she said.
Concern about parent discipline is more persuasive at keeping kids clear of alcohol than is fear of getting caught by police, she said.
The kits include portable breath test devices to confirm whether people have been drinking. They have a whiteboard that officers can use to write specifics about the incident and an individual, and a camera to capture that information and the youth’s photo for follow-up by juvenile authorities.
There are flashlights and binoculars, not high-tech items, but tools of the trade for officers tracking illegal get-togethers.
“It’s good to have that specialized equipment, but also it’s a good way to bring attention to the issue of party patrols and underage drinking,” Joyce said.
The spring historically has its share of parties. People like to enjoy the good weather and sometimes arrange to revel before everyone goes their separate ways for summer, Joyce said.
But Morrissey says underage drinking is a year-round problem. It does tend to get exacerbated when older siblings and friends come home from college, creating a new avenue for underage drinkers to get alcohol.
Joyce said 21 Reasons has brought police agencies together so they are taking a consistent approach to underage drinking.
“We’re working on a concerted effort to make the youth in Cumberland County safer,” he said. “I know they don’t believe it, but we are.”
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at: dhench@pressherald.com
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6 COMMENTS
bubbagump said...
Whats new. I was partying in gravel pits when I was in High School. It was the late 70s early 80s. Big hair. Muscle cars. Oh the memories. We usually set up tents and passed out. Why don't the cops just supply tents and some munchies and put one guy there to corral them all in until they sober up. Have the parents sign a waiver etc. Hee Hee
May 24, 2010 at 5:13 AM Report abuse
Steve0 said...
Teens: Unless you are caught driving, don't take the breath test, you have the right to refuse. If they ask to search your backpack, say no, no matter how much they badger you. If you didn't have the right to refuse, they wouldn't be asking for your permission. Make sure you know your rights!
May 24, 2010 at 8:58 AM Report abuse
mutt said...
Talk about swimming upstream. What is needed is education and changing the drinking age to 18. We need to EDUCATE and license drinking like we do a car. We don't just give the keys to a car to kids when they turn 15. Why would we think that at 21 we allow drinking with no formal education and expect good results??!! Check it out http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/home/
May 24, 2010 at 9:03 AM Report abuse
Bole said...
Drinking and partying is not substance abuse, it's called fun and partying. How about a group to block the fun killers.
May 24, 2010 at 10:16 AM Report abuse
backwrdstate said...
In Cumberland County we have an almost epidemic level of muggings, some murders, burglaries are on the rise as are other forms of property theft. But our intrepid police department is "targetting" 18 year old adults enjoying a beer or two. Yeah, that's the ticket.
May 24, 2010 at 12:30 PM Report abuse
Chew said...
When I was in high school we were partying in gravel pits... Today's version of police involvement differs primarily potential lawsuits from such occurences. If we want to fix the problem the little blurb on the side of the article explains "basic parenting", which although basic, will not completely stop the problem since my parents did all of the above and I still found a way to be a teenager. Obviously all the political promises and fancy legislation has not stopped teenage drinking in this generation, my generation, or generations before. If we want to fix the problem we need to change out behavior, our rules, and our plicies because teenagers have proven time and time again they will act like teenagers.
May 24, 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse