Parents need to act to protect youths

This letter is to inform adult parents and guardians of their responsibility and accountability in regard to laws regarding underage drinking. Recent priorities have been established nationally, including the Surgeon General's call to action against youth alcohol-access and use.

As a member of this community, I am asking for your cooperation to support the initiative to deter and prevent underage drinking by our youth. Adult accountability will be the priority in this initiative.

By law, a parent/guardian may not allow alcohol use by any individual under the age of 21. The only exception to this law is that a parent/guardian may allow their own supervised child, under the age of 21, to consume alcohol in their own home or on their own property/premises, provided they do not become intoxicated.

This exception does not allow any exemption for a parent or guardian to grant or transfer this permission to any other adult. This means that you may not give permission for your son or daughter to consume alcohol while under the supervision of any other adult. Failure to comply with this law may result in arrest and serious criminal and civil penalties.

Alcohol use by youths has reached epidemic levels, and negative and serious health-related behaviors, injuries and fatalities have greatly increased. The age at which our youths begin drinking nationally is now 11.9 years of age for boys and 13.1 years for girls. The age at which regular use begins is 15.9 years. This is dangerous and unacceptable.

Our youths are using social drugs at levels that increase risk and create a situation of danger that is unprecedented. Underage drinking has been identified by our current Surgeon General as the No. 1 health crisis facing youth.

Forty percent of children who start drinking before the age of 15 will become alcoholics at some point in their lives. If the onset of drinking is delayed by five years, a child's risk of serious alcohol problems is decreased by 50 percent.

The governmental agencies of Flathead County have made a commitment to address and hold accountable and responsible any adult who violates Montana state law. Please realize the seriousness of these actions and help us in making any and all efforts to protect our youth.

Since June 2005, the Alcohol Enforcement Team has made arrests in addition to underage drinking. Overall, there has been more than 2,000 non-alcohol-related arrests, including resisting, obstruction of justice, assault, criminal trespass, warrants, driving suspended and other traffic-related violations.

To date, they have arrested 15 youths for firearm or other weapons violations and more than 2,500 arrests for drug-related offenses. Thirty-two youths have been treated for alcohol poisoning since the teams inception in July 2005.

Over the past three months, the Alcohol Enforcement Team has arrested more than 200 Flathead youths possessing alcohol and 15 adults for supplying it. More than five motor-vehicle accidents involving youths under 21 were investigated, and drugs and alcohol were determined to be a factor.

All cases involved youths being transported to local emergency rooms. One youth was flown to Washington where he is still recovering. Another youth was involved in a motorcycle accident, where the investigations led law enforcement to a local bar where the youth had been drinking. This is an example of why alcohol compliance checks and walk-throughs are conducted, to educate and train businesses and assist those establishments in identifying underage patrons.

Alcohol has also claimed the lives of other Flathead adults this year in DUI-related accidents. Statistically, the most dangerous years for a youth are between 14 and 24. I'm urging all parents to continue being involved in their sons' or daughters' lives even after 18, as they are more likely to live until 25 and not be alcohol- or drug-dependent.

Parents — you are the most underutilized tool in the battle against underage drinking. Talk early and talk often. Tell them your expectations and consequences of their behavior.

Deputy Travis Bruyer is Flathead County's Alcohol Enforcement Team coordinator.