From now, just before Memorial Day through the 4th of July, is an extremely busy time in the lives of most of our residents. This Saturday is the junior prom for over 250 of our students; the traditional Memorial Day Weekend also starts cookouts and parades, Founders Day; high school graduation and finally, the Fourth of July. We have so many events to be thankful for and reason to celebrate. It is also a time of year when I become most concerned about the safety and well being of the young people in our community.
Teenage alcohol use is a serious community problem. The worst part of a police officer’s job is to go to the home of a parent and telling them that their son or daughter has been killed or seriously injured. Death can take many forms: a traffic crash, alcohol or drug poisoning, a senseless altercation or being the victim of a sexual assault.
Please reinforce with your teenagers the dangers of alcohol use. Last week, Vicki Withers at Human Services ran a program on alcohol poisonings. Over 1200 young people die each year from over-drinking. In fact, drinking alcohol has an immediate impact on the younger person; causing serious impairment and lack of motor control with only moderate amounts of ingested beer or wine. In fact, the inexperienced drinker is at even greater risk.
The Foxboro Police recently obtained a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau for $9,200. This funding will be used for two purposes: extra patrols for speed enforcement and alcohol impairment and specific enforcement of youth access to alcohol. This program will extend through the summer into early September. There will be no warnings during this time period. Our message is simple, “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.” In early June, I will be meeting with all liquor licensees to review laws pertaining to alcohol sales. As a group, the local licensees will do what they can to reduce the opportunity for youth access to alcohol.
As parents, we all have an important role to play. If you’re hosting a party, accept responsibility for your guests’ safety. Don’t serve alcohol to underage guests or to anyone that clearly has “had enough.” At your party, offer non-alcoholic beverages and protein-rich snacks. Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends. Arrange rides for those that become impaired; don’t let them drive away. If a youth shows up, please call his parents. I know I’d rather get a call about my child, then to find out later when a tragedy happens.
With your help, Foxboro can avoid having to mourn the death of a young person to an alcohol related incident. I am willing to do my part, how about you?
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