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Students say stricter law won't reduce teen drinking
January 28, 2007
A proposed state law suspending minors' driver's licenses immediately after they're cited for possession of alcohol won't deter teenage drinking, some local high school students say.
A court conviction is now required before a minor's license is suspended for alcohol or drug use. The new legislation is proposed by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers and Gov. Ted Kulongoski's wife, Mary Oberst.
Interviews with student leaders at Henley and Mazama high schools indicated the well-intentioned idea might not be effective.
“If people are going to party, they're going to party,” said Lashell Larman, Mazama senior class vice president.
She believes fewer movies and television commercials glamorizing alcohol use would do more to reduce underage drinking.
Darren Valenta, Mazama senior and student body president, agreed with Larman.
“I don't think it would be a deterrent,” he said.
Driver's license valued
However, Mazama senior class president Whitney Bergstrom said losing a license is bound to make an impression on kids after it happens. That would be the case whether suspension comes immediately or later.
“That license is what you care about,” she said.
Kayla Bowker, co-president of Henley High's junior class, said the proposed law wouldn't prevent kids from drinking. She said most teens wouldn't change their habits until they feel the consequences.
Dakota Baker, also co-president of Henley's junior class, believes the stricter law might be worth a try.
“It's a start,” she said. “Something needs to happen or it's not going to change.”
Baker lost a grandfather and an uncle to drunk drivers. She believes kids and adults alike need to realize drunk driving affects other families, not just themselves.
Nick Zamudio, a Henley junior, said suspension shouldn't occur until after a court appearance.
“There could be some reason (the alcohol) wasn't yours or you weren't involved,” he said.
Zamudio said community service would be an appropriate sentence for offenders. But he added, “I don't really hear about people getting drunk over the weekend.”
Bowker disagreed, calling teenage drinking “a big problem.”
In pushing their stricter legislation, Meyers and Oberst presented state statistics at a news conference. The data showed one in three Oregon eighth graders reported drinking alcohol in the past month.
In addition, almost half the 11th graders surveyed said they drank on one or more occasions during the past 30 days. A third of them said they engaged in binge drinking - consuming five or more drinks in a row.
Local students who were interviewed questioned the accuracy of surveys of eighth graders, saying they doubted the problem is as bad as the results show. But they generally agreed with the report about 11th graders' drinking habits.
Bergstrom said 11th graders know more people of legal age, making it easier to acquire alcohol than it is for younger students.
- Steve Kadel
A proposed state law suspending minors' driver's licenses immediately after they're cited for possession of alcohol won't deter teenage drinking, some local high school students say.
A court conviction is now required before a minor's license is suspended for alcohol or drug use. The new legislation is proposed by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers and Gov. Ted Kulongoski's wife, Mary Oberst.
Interviews with student leaders at Henley and Mazama high schools indicated the well-intentioned idea might not be effective.
“If people are going to party, they're going to party,” said Lashell Larman, Mazama senior class vice president.
She believes fewer movies and television commercials glamorizing alcohol use would do more to reduce underage drinking.
Darren Valenta, Mazama senior and student body president, agreed with Larman.
“I don't think it would be a deterrent,” he said.
Driver's license valued
However, Mazama senior class president Whitney Bergstrom said losing a license is bound to make an impression on kids after it happens. That would be the case whether suspension comes immediately or later.
“That license is what you care about,” she said.
Kayla Bowker, co-president of Henley High's junior class, said the proposed law wouldn't prevent kids from drinking. She said most teens wouldn't change their habits until they feel the consequences.
Dakota Baker, also co-president of Henley's junior class, believes the stricter law might be worth a try.
“It's a start,” she said. “Something needs to happen or it's not going to change.”
Baker lost a grandfather and an uncle to drunk drivers. She believes kids and adults alike need to realize drunk driving affects other families, not just themselves.
Nick Zamudio, a Henley junior, said suspension shouldn't occur until after a court appearance.
“There could be some reason (the alcohol) wasn't yours or you weren't involved,” he said.
Zamudio said community service would be an appropriate sentence for offenders. But he added, “I don't really hear about people getting drunk over the weekend.”
Bowker disagreed, calling teenage drinking “a big problem.”
In pushing their stricter legislation, Meyers and Oberst presented state statistics at a news conference. The data showed one in three Oregon eighth graders reported drinking alcohol in the past month.
In addition, almost half the 11th graders surveyed said they drank on one or more occasions during the past 30 days. A third of them said they engaged in binge drinking - consuming five or more drinks in a row.
Local students who were interviewed questioned the accuracy of surveys of eighth graders, saying they doubted the problem is as bad as the results show. But they generally agreed with the report about 11th graders' drinking habits.
Bergstrom said 11th graders know more people of legal age, making it easier to acquire alcohol than it is for younger students.
- Steve Kadel
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