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Teen drinking parties targeted

Cambria warns parents against lettings children drink at home

With the school year coming to a close, students are preparing for a summer full of parties and festivities.

While many parents may feel inclined to “safely” allow teens to drink alcohol in their home, local officials warn there could be physical, mental and legal consequences.

Through the Parents Who Host campaign, the Cambria County Drug Coalition is aiming to inform parents of the dangers of hosting underage drinking parties.

“Our primary goal is to protect our teens,” Drug Coalition Executive Director Ronna Yablonski said. “Not only is underage drinking an unhealthy choice, but an unsafe choice that could lead to serious consequences.”

More than 4,300 youth die each year due to underage drinking, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those deaths occur from vehicle crashes but also homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, falls, burns and drowning, the CDC said.

Yablonski said the consumption of alcohol is not healthy for a developing brain, but furnishing alcohol to minors poses numerous threats for others as well.

Alcohol impairs teens’ decision making, and 45% of people killed in underage drinking accidents are not the driver, according to the Drug Coalition.

“Underage drinking puts everyone else on the road at risk, too,” Yablonski said.

Many parents could feel the inclination to host an underage drinking party so that alcohol could be furnished in a controlled environment.

But in addition to the mental and physical consequences, officials said there are legal ramifications as well.

Penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors could result in criminal charges, fines, jail time and other charges, the Drug Coalition said.

“We want to keep everyone safe and encourage them to make safe decisions,” Yablonski said.

Mirror Staff Writer Calem Illig is at 814-946-7535.

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