With a
recent survey showing that 44% of
Rhode Island high school freshman
have had a drink in the past thirty
days North Providence is saying “The
Party’s Over – We’re cracking
down.”
Our
message, through “The Party’s Over”
Campaign, is that in order to keep
alcohol out of the hands of youth,
the entire community needs to work
together to deny access.
The
campaign provides funding to police
department to step up compliance
checks in bars, restaurants and
liquor stores as well as to conduct
more party patrols. A recent change
in the state’s social host law makes
it illegal for adults to host
underage drinking anywhere on their
property. The police will also
being encouraging the public to
report underage drinking activities
in their neighborhoods.
Public
awareness initiatives, also funded
through the grant, include flyers,
ads, and point of sale materials
which review the penalties adults
face for allowing consumption of
alcohol or furnishing it to underage
persons. Buying alcohol for underage
persons or hosting a party where
there is underage drinking now has
first offense fines of up to $1,000
and up to six months in jail. Bar
tenders and servers are also subject
to fines for serving underage youth
as well as penalties for lacking a
valid Responsible Server Training
Certificate. Buying or possessing
alcohol under the age of 21 can cost
up to $750 for the first offense and
possible license suspension and
community service.
The
consequences of underage drinking
are grave. Our hope is that through
this multi-faceted campaign we will
encourage adults to obey the laws
and that they will talk to youth on
harmful effects of alcohol use,
which include alcohol poisoning,
traffic crashes and fatalities, and
risky behaviors such as unprotected
sex, crime and violence.
The
campaign will also encourage the
community to advocate for changes in
laws and policies aimed at reducing
the ability of youth to obtain
alcohol. These hoped-for changes
include standardizing local
penalties for license holders as
well as fines and stronger penalties
for restaurants and bars who serve
minors.
Funding
for the stepped up enforcement and
public awareness program for North
Providence are derived from a
three-year federally funded grant
from the Substance Abuse Mental
Health Services Administration
through The RI Executive Office of
Health and Human Services managed by
the Tri-Town Community Action Agency
and the Smithfield Substance Abuse
Prevention Coalition.
Any
organization or establishment that
would like to have “The Party’s
Over, We’re Cracking Down” flyers,
posters, tent cards or other
materials should contact Jeannie
Vickers, Community Action Agency
Prevention Services Coordinator, at
401-519-1937 or
jvickers@tri-town.org.
Contact
Coalition Coordinator Sherry Arlia
at 401-232-0900, ext 246 or
email with any questions.
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