Party Patrol: Community Groups to Be Trained to Fight Underage Drinking in the Capital Region

ALBANY, NY (03/24/2009)(readMedia)-- Media Advisory Correction: Open press only at the Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Road.

State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today announced that OASAS, along with Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares, will hold a media event to launch a county wide training for law enforcement and community groups in the Capital Region to learn how to prevent underage drinking parties and safely disperse them when they occur.

The media event will take place on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:30 am at the Albany Marriot,189 Wolf Road with 80 individuals expected to be trained. The training will be held on March 25 and March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes a four hour educational session followed by a mock party dispersal. The mock party will occur at 1:00 pm in two locations: Albany Marriot's Albany/Colonie Room and Siena College will host the mock party exercise in their McClusky Town House. Siena students and Capital District students will participate as underage drinking actors in the activity.

"One in three youth in the Capital district use alcohol," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "Until underage drinking is eliminated it will pose a serious threat to our children's lives and community. Law enforcement, prevention programs and community leaders serve as our eyes and ears in learning about the underage drinking parties. We have made significant strides in reducing underage drinking and this training will provide the proper techniques to safely and effectively respond to a party, saving our children's lives."

"We have all heard about the horrific crashes and fatalities associated with underage drinking," commented Albany County District Attorney David Soares. "A lesser known facts is that alcohol impaired judgment plays a major role in many of the most avoidable and tragic cases presented to my office including robberies, sexual assaults, homicides and cases of domestic violence. My policy has always been to go directly to the source of illegal activity to stop it before it begins, and I applaud Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo for her dedication to preventing underage drinking and the tragedies associated with alcohol abuse."

According to the OASAS 2006 School Survey, about two-thirds (904,000 or 66%) of 7-12 graders in New York state reported having had a drink in their lifetime, about 1 in four (340,000 or 25%) have consumed 5 or more drinks at one time at least once a month, and 37% or more than 500,000 had a drink of alcohol at least once a month.