With graduation nights upon us, Odessa Mayor Javier Joven urged parents Wednesday to let their teenagers know underage drinking is unacceptable. Local law enforcement officers also reminded everyone they’ll be on hyper alert for liquor law violations this weekend.
Representatives from five law enforcement agencies gathered at OPD Wednesday with the Mayor’s Drug and Crime Commission to talk about Operation Graduation.
Every year, extra officers spread out across Ector County in an effort to deter teenagers from making poor decisions so the entire community is kept safe during graduation weekend.
Permian High School’s graduation ceremony is Thursday and Odessa High’s is set for Friday.
OPD Cpl. Steve LeSueur said officers will be on the lookout for minors in possession of alcohol, underage drinking and adults who either host underage drinking parties or purchase alcohol for minors.
Folks who call tips into Crimestoppers at 333-TIPS are eligible for cash rewards, he said.
“Graduation is a milestone. That is no excuse for teenage drinking. Graduation is a rite of passage, but underage drinking is not,” Joven said. “Many parents are looking forward to watching the children cross the stage and definitely enter a new phase of life as they become young adults. I suggest that this important rite of passage include parents setting expectations that drinking alcohol before the age of 21 is against family rules, but especially it is against the law.”
Parents who allow teenagers to drink could be charged criminally or face civil lawsuits, Joven said.
Joven cited a 2011 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study that found 62% of the teens who participated said their first alcoholic drink was before the age of 15 and 45% said they didn’t see a risk in heavy drinking daily. In addition, 32% said they thought their parents would be OK if they drank, as long as it was only beer.
“I would like to remind parents that the greatest deterrence to underage and youth binge drinking are parental expectations,” Joven said. “Parents should know that research indicates that parents who do not allow drinking before the age of 21 and set consequences for such behavior have kids who are most likely not to drink, less likely to binge and when they do start drinking are less likely to have problems with alcohol as adults.”
