The consequences of underage drinking were examined from a legal perspective during an alcohol awareness forum at Cheshire Town Hall on April 26. Called "Underage and Under the Influence," the event revealed how parents could be held liable if their minor children drink at home.
As part of Alcohol Awareness Week sponsored by the Human and Youth Service Committees, the forum presented eight panelists who are intimately associated with the health and welfare of juveniles who drink.
For the first time the annual forum included an attorney who provided a view of the legal dangers of underage drinking. Matt Jalowiec said if a minor (who is unrelated to the family) is drinking and gets injured while on private property, "it could cause problems with the insurance carrier. You could lose coverage for that event," and be forced to personally pay injury claims.
A parent in the audience asked if they’d still be liable if adults are not home and underage drinking occurs. Jalowiec said, "Without knowledge, you’re not criminally liable, but civilly liable; especially if it’s happened before."
Jalowiec added if state agencies "are aware your children are drinking, you can be found guilty of neglect. DCF (the Department of Children and Families) can take your children away."
Other panelists included Robert Slater, a recovering alcoholic and drug user who said, "I’ve been clean for three years. I’m now experiencing fun I never had before." Slater, who grew up in New Haven noted he might not have turned to alcohol at age 9 if he had had a mentor. "They would have had to get to the heart of me and told me about love because I was angry" and not getting guidance from caring adults.
Cheshire High School senior Amanda Kuss stated, "Most (students) will have tried alcohol by the time they’re graduating. But, it’s not a norm to get drunk every weekend."
She added that teens need to hear more than the message that underage drinking "is bad; they need to hear why." Kuss said the presentation of a program this week called "The Hard Truth," which showed the "consequences" of drinking and driving, "hit home and effected students."
Sarah Bourdon, Cheshire’s project coordinator for a new incentive program on reducing underage drinking, acted as the forum’s moderator. She told the audience, "Parents can’t wait until their children are in high school to have a conversation about alcohol."
Kathy Nankin, a member of the human services committee, noted very few residents were in attendance at the forum. She said, "Even though we’re sparse in numbers, word of mouth is a powerful thing."
Earlier in the week Nankin spoke to the Town Council about National Alcohol Awareness Month. She told the council "It stared in 1987 and here it is 2007 and we’re still concerned about underage drinking." Nankin said some residents ask, "What are you doing new? She tells them, "It’s an old problem. We give the same old message in different ways so parents, kids and families take a look at what happens" with underage drinking.
In December, the town was informed it had received a three-year state grant for $126,000 from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. According to the DMHAS Web site, the incentive program will help selected towns promote youth development, reduce risk-taking behaviors, build assets and resilience and prevent problem behaviors across the life span.

Cheshire Herald Cheshire CT 05/03/07