30 Greenstone Youths Charged
From the Editor: Though this unfortunate incident took place in Greenstone, it could just as easily have happened in Manitouwadge (I don’t know how the under-age alcohol consumption problem is in other Northshore communities); part of what makes it very difficult for those parents discouraging/disaproving of this behaviour is parents allowing not only their own children but OTHER people’s kids to drink in their homes, seemingly oblivious to the inherent dangers and problems that go hand-in-hand with underage drinking. BRAVO! to the Greenstone OPP who chose not to be the ‘cool cops’ by turning a blind eye to such a dangerous problem, if only all Northern police officers took under-age drinking as seriously, we parents might have a fighting chance!
FROM/DE: Greenstone OPP DATE: October 6, 2010
30 Youths Charged
Geraldton, ON – On October 2, 2010, the Ontario Provincial Police Greenstone Detachment responded to a noise complaint in the town of Geraldton. When police arrived at the residence they observed numerous minors to be intoxicated and consuming alcohol. There were no parents present at this residence. As a result the Ontario Provincial Police are charging 30 youths with consuming alcohol under the age of 19 years.
In a 2009 survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Ontario) advises that whereas only 16% of students in Toronto are likely to binge drink, the figure is twice that for students in the North at 32%. The same survey also reports that drinking increases significantly with the grade of the student and 83% of students in grade 12 had reported consuming alcohol in the past year.
Greenstone OPP would like to remind the public that alcohol consumption by youths is a serious matter and all parents and citizens need to help to educate youths on the dangers of consuming alcohol.
