Adults Who Allow Underage Alcohol Consumption Face Stiff Consequences

Alcohol is so prevalent in today's society that its dangers may not be viewed as serious, even for underage drinkers, according to experts.

Yet parents should be concerned - and if they believe otherwise, they should consider the headlines, including the recent conviction of a 21-year-old Pinckney woman who provided the whiskey that killed her 18-year-old friend, said Assistant Chief Prosecutor Dan Garber.

"People are under the (perception that) if they take the car keys away from the juvenile, they are safe," Garber said. "You can still have poisoning, and (providing alcohol to a minor) is still against the law. You may think you're doing right by keeping them off the road, but you still expose yourself to risk."

Efforts to curtail underage drinking have been a countywide priority and has spawned organizations like the Hartland Coalition.

Jo Del Vero, community coordinator for the coalition, said one of the problems is that parents are not as aware of how much or where their children drink alcohol.

A recent study showed that 12 percent of adults believed kids drink at home, yet 30.5 percent of minors interviewed said they drink at home.

"No adult has the right to allow a minor to drink," Del Vero said.

Teens often take their cues about acceptance of alcohol consumption from their parents, who may adopt the attitude that they drank alcohol as teens and survived, said Kaitlin Fink, substance-abuse-prevention coordinator with Livingston County Catholic Charities.

"I think some (parents) have gone off their personal experiences," she explained. "They said, 'When I was 16, it wasn't good to drink, but I turned out OK.' They make it somewhat acceptable. I think they're trying to act as a child's friend instead of being a parent. They want to be the cool parent."

In addition, movies like "American Pie" glorify teen alcohol consumption, but the reality is far from amusing or fun, experts said.

According to a Drug Abuse Warning Network report, of the 189,000 alcohol-related emergency-room visits by patients ages 12 to 20 each year, an estimated 70 percent are for alcohol only.

Locally, a 16-year-old Linden girl was rushed to the hospital July 9 after allegedly consuming an unknown amount of alcohol at a bonfire following a graduation party in Genesee County's Argentine Township.

A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that about 5,000 people under 21 die annually of alcohol-related injuries.

In June, Pinckney resident Lindsay Treanor was sentenced to three years of probation with the first six months in the Livingston County Jail for providing the Five Star whiskey that contributed to the death of 18-year-old Bryce Dickinson.

Experts said many parents view alcohol consumption as a minor infraction compared to other drugs, such as heroin, but it doesn't take much alcohol before a teen is in distress.

As little as 8 ounces of 80-proof vodka in an hour or two hours can lead to coma and death if no medical care is provided, according to experts.

Del Vero said more parents need to take "an absolute, definite stand" that alcohol consumption by minors is not allowed. Those who allow it should be held accountable, she noted.

At least 27 states - including Michigan - have social-host laws on the books.
In Michigan, the law says anyone who knowingly allows a minor to consume or possess an alcoholic beverage at a social gathering on or within their premises, residence or other real property has committed a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Creekside Elementary School Principal Tracey Sahouri and her husband, Raed Sahouri, were recently cited by Argentine Township police under the state statute for allegedly allowing minors to drink after their son's graduation party.

The alleged behavior came to police attention after Raed Sahouri called 911 when he found a 16-year-old Linden girl vomiting from drinking too much alcohol.

Raed Sahouri said the teen showed up at his home in that condition, but police allege the teen consumed the alcohol at the home and that the couple knew minors were drinking alcohol.

Tracey and Raed Sahouri appear Sept. 8 in Genesee County court for arraignment.

Garber, who could not speak about the Sahouri case because he is not familiar with the out-of-county investigation, said that in those types of situations, parents have one decision to make - notify police.
"People should be concerned, whether it's their kids or not," Garber said.

Underage drinking "is a potentially dangerous situation. I think most parents do take it seriously, but alcohol is so prevalent in society that maybe it's not viewed as seriously as it should be," he added.