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April 18, 2008

Bristol tries to crack down on underage drinking

Bristol officials announced today a three-point plan that includes increased communication and “party patrols” to help combat underage drinking.

Several months ago, Bristol and about a dozen other cities and towns, were awarded grants from the US Mental health Service Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

After months of investigation, the Bristol Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force decided to focus on underage drinking.

The task force today released a strategic plan that lays out a three-part approach:

Education: Substance abuse prevention at Kickemuit Middle School and Mount Hope High School

Communication: Combating pop-culture messages about drinking and letting kids and their parents know about the social host law.

Policy and Enforcement: Increasing police party patrols and compliance checks at liquor stores.

“It is imperative that we work together to deal with this public health and safety issue, Diane Mederos, Town Administrator, said in a statement.

“We’ve all seen the stories, we all know this is a problem, now it’s time for all of us to take this plan and use it to keep our children safe and healthy.”

In February, a 16-year-old Mt. Hope High School student died after a car crash. Witnesses said they saw the car’s driver, also a teenager, was taking shots at a party in Bristol before getting behind the wheel.

And in November, more than two dozen La Salle Academy students were suspended and pulled from the big Thanksgiving Day football game after the school investigated their conduct at a house party where alcohol and marijuana were being used.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 12:01 PM | Permalink

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