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With a recent survey showing that 44% of Rhode Island
high school freshman have had a drink in the past thirty
days Smithfield is saying “The Party’s Over – We’re
cracking down.”
Our
message, through “The Party’s Over” Campaign, is that in
order to keep alcohol out of the hands of youth, the
entire community needs to work together to deny
access.”
The campaign provides funding to police departments to step up
compliance checks in bars, restaurants and liquor stores
as well as to conduct more party patrols. A recent
change in the state’s social host law makes it illegal
for adults to host underage drinking anywhere on their
property. The police will also being encouraging the
public to report underage drinking activities in their
neighborhoods.
Public
awareness initiatives, also funded through the grant,
include flyers, ads, and point of sale materials which
review the penalties adults face for allowing
consumption of alcohol or furnishing it to underage
persons. Buying alcohol for underage persons or hosting
a party where there is underage drinking now has first
offense fines of up to $1,000 and up to six months in
jail. Bar tenders and servers are also subject to fines
for serving underage youth as well as penalties for
lacking a valid Responsible Server Training Certificate.
Buying or possessing alcohol under the age of 21 can
cost up to $750 for the first offense and possible
license suspension and community service.
The
consequences of underage drinking are grave. Our hope is
that through this multi-faceted campaign we will
encourage adults to obey the laws and that they will
talk to youth on harmful effects of alcohol use, which
include alcohol poisoning, traffic crashes and
fatalities, and risky behaviors such as unprotected sex,
crime and violence.”
The campaign will also encourage the community to advocate for
changes in laws and policies aimed at reducing the
ability of youth to obtain alcohol. These hoped-for
changes include standardizing local penalties for
license holders as well as fines and stronger penalties
for restaurants and bars who serve minors
Funding
for the stepped up enforcement and public awareness
program for Smithfield are derived from a three-year
federally funded grant from the Substance Abuse Mental
Health Services Administration through The RI Executive
Office of Health and Human Services managed by the
Tri-Town Community Action Agency and the Smithfield
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition .
Any
organization or establishment that would like to have
“The Party’s Over, We’re Cracking Down” flyers, posters,
tent cards or other materials should contact Jeannie
Vickers, Community Action Agency Prevention Services
Coordinator, at 401-519-1937 or
jvickers@tri-town.org. |
