OLCC Urges Parents, Businesses to Join in Youth Drinking Prevention

In Oregon, there were 1,219 minors arrested in 2005 for DUII and another 7,205 were cited for minor in possession of alcohol.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Spring break generally signals the start of the season for school celebrations, proms, graduations, and off-campus parties around Oregon.

It also means more underage drinking and the serious problems associated with it, such as driving while intoxicated, says the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

“Oregon has been making strides in reducing alcohol-related traffic deaths in recent years, and we want that trend to continue,” said Steve Pharo, OLCC executive director. “That’s why we urge our liquor licensees and parents to be extra vigilant this time of year when it comes to teens and alcohol.”

Oregon’s alcohol-related traffic fatalities dipped from 204 in 2004 to 177 in 2005 -- a 13.2 percent decrease, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those 2005 fatalities, 28 were younger than 21 – down from 35 the previous year.

That continues a trend that’s seen a 50.4 percent decline in Oregon’s youth fatalities since 1995.

There were also 1,219 minors arrested in 2005 for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and another 7,205 were cited for minor in possession of alcohol, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

“We’ve still got a long way to go to bring these tragic numbers down and to reduce underage drinking,” said Pharo. “But with the help of law enforcement, prevention and community groups, parents, and teens themselves, we can continue to cut the number of alcohol-related highway accidents and fatalities.”

Pharo asks that parents talk to their teens and pre-teens about the problems -- and potential harm -- they face with underage drinking.

And the situation is serious, he explained, when more than 30 percent of Oregon’s 12 to 20-year-olds admitted to drinking alcohol in the past month.

He suggested that parents also become familiar with Oregon’s laws regarding minors and alcohol and explain them to their children.

Information is available at www.olcc.state.or.us (see Publications/Fact Sheets/Oregon’s Alcohol Laws and Minors).