White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Spano to Hold Second Conference on Teen Drinking

WPCNR WESTCHESTER TEEN WATCH. From th Westchester County Department of Communications. February 4, 2003: Wednesday evening, County Executive Andy Spano will hold his follow-up to his December Conversation on Underage Drinking at Valhalla High School.

More than 100 young people from at least 30 Westchester high schools are expected to attend a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5 with County Executive Andy Spano. This meeting is a follow-up to a Dec. 12 teen drinking summit, where students enthusiastically shared their ideas about effective alcohol-prevention initiatives. The meeting will take place in Cafeteria B at Valhalla High School, 300 Columbus Ave., from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

“This meeting Wednesday is an outgrowth of our December summit, where the students pulled no punches in telling us what they liked and didn’t like about some of the ideas we presented. And they also suggested that they themselves could come up with some better solutions,” said Spano. “This will be their opportunity to share their ideas as well as for us to talk about some of our proposals. In addition, they will be given questionnaires to take back to their peers so we can find out what kinds of programs the kids think work.”

The county is still pursuing one of the three initiatives presented at the December summit – a proposal to amend the state Vehicle and Traffic Law and alcohol laws so that an underage person found in possession of liquor could lose a driver’s license for a year, or have his right to obtain a license suspended if he does not yet have a license.

“This would not be a criminal offense,” said Spano. “The teens, parents and school officials we heard from in December said a criminal approach was too severe.”

Also under consideration by the county is a new initiative: to push for state legislation to increase penalties to retailers who sell liquor to minors.

“Increased penalties have been effective in deterring merchants from selling cigarettes to minors,” said Spano. “It seems clear we should advocate for the same approach here. Like with cigarette merchants, those who illegally sell liquor to teens could lose their license to sell liquor and lose a lottery license as well.”

On Wednesday, following the give-and-take between Spano and the students, the Teen Drinking Action Council started several years ago by Spano will meet.

The council brings together student leaders with the mission of creating messages and activities that support an alcohol/drug free lifestyle and innovative ways to spread that message to other students. Many students attending Wednesday night’s event are current members of the Teen Drinking Action Council. Other students are welcome to join.

The Teen Drinking Action Council meeting will include a discussion of a phone helpline run by teens for teens and planning for a barbecue to celebrate teens who support an alcohol/drug free lifestyle.

In addition to Wednesday’s meeting, the following events are scheduled dealing with underage drinking:

• On Feb. 25, Spano will meet with college presidents to explore the issues of drinking on campus.

• On March 6, Spano will host an evening conference for parents and community leaders to focus on parental involvement in a grass roots efforts to deal with the issue.

• And on April 7, Spano will reconvene a meeting with students to discuss what they found when they surveyed their schoolmates.


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