Community Members Gather to Stop Underage Drinking

About 5,000 young adults under the age of 21 die from car crashes, unintentional injuries, homicides, and suicides related to underage drinking, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 

People who drink before they are 15 are six times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports. 

These are a just a few statistics that were shared Monday night at “Stop Underage Drinking: What Every Parent Needs to Know,” a presentation at the in Crescenta that included informative skits and a riveting debate.

Attended by parents, students, community organizations and law enforcement officials, the event was hosted by the Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition to spread awareness on issues related to underage drinking.

The program began with a scene that portrayed a mother’s anxiety about her son, Kerry, who later secretly meets with an underage friend to drink beer.

Another skit showed teenagers drinking at home, while their parents acted as chaperones in the opposite room; the situation got out of hand when one girl became sick from intoxication, and another partly inebriated boy left the house without a designated driver.

All of the stories presented were taken from the actors’ personal experiences and highlighted how young adults can easily be influenced by their peers.

“For me, as a high school student… I try to have a mindset of something important, a priority of how to fight it off with something more enjoyable,” said Paul Lee, a sophomore at , on how he battles peer pressure.

Following the skits, the took the stage to debate the effectiveness of two different campaigns that targeted underage drinking. The group, coached by Elizabeth Sutlian, presented a number of speeches; one team argued for deterrence of alcohol, while the other group stressed the importance of alcohol awareness education. Both addressed the role of social media advertising campaigns.

“We should use these forums because [teenagers] are more likely to listen,” stated Cassie Mckenzie, a seventh grader at .

The debate was moderated by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, Frederick R. Rotenberg, who asked questions throughout the session to better understand the students’ perspectives and arguments. Important points of the debate included the question of parental involvement and the effectiveness of the alcohol education courses. Rotenberg himself has seen the issue of underage drinking in the courtroom.

“It’s a very important topic for dialogue, especially with parents involved. It’s important for parents to bring up the issue long before kids bring it up,” commented Rotenberg.

The night ended with an open forum of questions and comments. A few the topics addressed by the audience included , the alcohol license that was recently granted to a Walgreens on Foothill Boulevard, as well as the impact popular culture can play in teenagers’ perceptions of alcohol and drugs.