Underage Drinking, Drug Use Targeted
Auburn, Calif. – Placer County Board of Supervisors passed social host ordinance during their meeting on April 10th. Youth leaders from the Placer County Youth Commission, and Raising Placer Coalitions worked together to bring the issue of underage drinking and other drug use to the attention of parents, youth, community members and city leaders. The ordinance became effective May 10th.
“As a public safety agency, one of the most important things we can do is to ensure the safety of the youth in our community,” said Lincoln Police Chief Doug Lee. “We are committed to preventing parties where underage drinking and/or illegal drug use is condoned, and this ordinance will help us do that. It is my hope that the ordinance will serve as a deterrent, and I would consider our efforts to be a success if we never had to issue a citation for this ordinance. We hope to reach that goal through public education.”
“I am extremely grateful for the assistance and support we received from Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth and the Placer County Youth Commission.”
Social host ordinances hold adults accountable for hosting, permitting or allowing gatherings where minors are drinking or using drugs.
Underage drinking is a major concern in Placer County. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug by youth, and locally teens have easy access with more than half of local 9th graders reporting alcohol is easy to get. Teens often get alcohol at parties at home or a friend’s home, through older siblings, or from parents or other adults. Alcohol is a major contributor to teen death and injuries and research shows that alcohol can harm the developing teen brain. Furthermore, young people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.
Teens across Placer County are leading a movement to shift norms and prevent underage drinking. These young people are working to move policies and to educate and engage their communities about taking steps to reduce underage alcohol use. Teen leaders from the Placer County Youth Commission, and Raising Placer Coalitions including Coalition for Rocklin Youth and Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth are holding a press conference to educate the community about Placer County’s new social host ordinance, which follows similar ordinances passed in Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville.
Youth leaders from the Placer County Youth Commission will hold a press conference to speak about why preventing underage drinking is important to them and their hopes for the future.
