Town Youth Officer Reynolds: Straight
Tips for Parents
by Judy Silberstein
(October 17, 2002
) For Detective Bob Reynolds, youth officer for the
Town of Mamaroneck, teen DWI incidents, alcohol at house
parties, and kegs on the golf course are nothing new.
“The issues we’ve been facing here, we’ve
been facing for a number of years,” Reynolds reported.
“It was a very good meeting,” said Reynolds.
“It was nice to see it so well attended and to
see that the school, parents, community counseling center
and police are all on board.” However, the increase
in drinking reported at the October 10 RADAR/PTA meeting
is definitely a concern.
Another difference, Reynolds noted, is that the consequences
of underage drinking are more severe than they’ve
ever been. Parents who remember their own wild youths
and dismiss teen drinking as an inevitable right of
passage, need to also remember there was a younger legal
drinking age in the past. What was merely irresponsible
in the 1960’s or ‘70’s is now illegal.
Children are being arrested and parents are being sued
for behavior that was overlooked in the past.
In the Town of Mamaroneck, teens caught drinking receive
a summons and appear in court where they are likely
to be referred to the ten-hour drug and alcohol awareness
program developed by Detective Reynolds, Town prosecutor
Louise Cohen, and Mark Levy from the Community Counseling
Center. So far, about thirty teens have been through
the program. Unfortunately, reported Reynolds, most
of the parents involved have been angry and upset with
law enforcement for requiring their children to attend
the program. Other parents have been known to drive
their children to “keg parties.”
The police and schools can only do so much, Detective
Reynolds stressed. He offered the following tips for
parents:
1. Parents, know where your children are.
Require an itinerary when your child leaves home at
night or on the weekend. Don’t be shy about calling;
if you hear what sounds like an overly raucous party
at the other end of the phone, take action.
2. Make your home “alcohol-unfriendly.”
If you have any reason for concern, make sure liquor
is not accessible.
3. Giving alcohol to a minor, other than your own, is
illegal.
That means no beer at the Super Bowl party, no wine
with dinner and no champagne at a pre-prom photo op.
4. If you must leave home overnight, leave a responsible
adult in the home and keep the neighbors informed.
Sibs just old enough to drink legally have been implicated
as “suppliers” of kegs and other alcoholic
party beverages.
5. If you see kids congregating at night at a golf course,
nature trail or nearby home, and you suspect alcohol
use, call the police.
6. Have your children give you a kiss goodnight, no
matter how late they come home.
You’ll know they’re in safe, you’ll
be able to smell evidence of any drinking, and it’s
a nice ritual.
Detective Reynolds urged parents to call him with any
additional questions or concerns at 381-6100.
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