Parents reminded of dangers of supplying alcohol to minorsWith schools on the verge of breaking up for the year, Wingecarribee Shire Council is launching a safety campaign to remind parents and guardians of their responsibility to ensure teenagers under the age of 18 are not supplied with alcohol this festive season. The new campaign entitled, “The Secondary Supply – Don’t Get Stuck” is a joint initiative between the Southern Highlands Liquor Accord, NSW Police (Goulburn Local Area Command) and Wingecarribee Shire Council. “In NSW it is an offence to supply alcohol to minors in a private residence without direct approval of a parent, but evidence is emerging that adults are increasingly supplying alcohol to their teenage children and their friends,” said Council’s Road Safety Officer, Melanie Lausz. “If you are having a party at home and supply the alcohol you could be fined for each instance of a minor consuming that alcohol. “Parents and guardians have an important responsibility to educate their teenage children about the effects of alcohol, peer pressure and helping them to develop a responsible attitude towards drinking,” Ms Lausz said. “This includes teaching them of the effects of alcohol, the dangers of drink driving and the long and short-term risks associated with drinking alcohol.” Ms Lausz said the campaign would be extended to include local liquor retailers. Bottle Shops across the Shire will be supplied with bright orange warning stickers highlighting that on the spot fines of up to $1,100 apply to the supply of alcohol to minors. Stickers will be attached to a range of alcoholic products, in particular those favoured by younger drinkers. “A common problem we’re hearing from parents is that once their children become teenagers, some of them find it increasing difficult to communicate with their children and by buying alcohol for them, it enables them to re-connect on a social level.” “There are increasingly more alcoholic products marketed towards younger people including alcopops, designer and pre-packaged mixed drinks which seem to be attributed to the rise in binge drinking amongst teenagers,” said Ms Lausz. “According to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, more than 20 per cent of 14 to 19 year olds consume alcohol on a weekly basis,” said Ms Lausz. “Parents subsequently have a huge responsibility in educating their children and helping to reduce this statistic”. Adults are reminded that fines apply for supplying alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years of age. The maximum penalty is $11,000 or 12 months imprisonment (or both), or an on-the-spot fine of $1,100. For further information on alcohol and teenage drinking visit: www.drinkwise.com.au, www.mynite.com.au or www.druginfo.adf.org.au.
With schools on the verge of breaking up for the year, Wingecarribee Shire Council is launching a safety campaign to remind parents and guardians of their responsibility to ensure teenagers under the age of 18 are not supplied with alcohol this festive season. The new campaign entitled, “The Secondary Supply – Don’t Get Stuck” is...