April 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Area Police Chiefs and Dallas Mayor Laura Miller
Announce A New Law Enforcement Campaign Targeting Individuals
Furnishing Alcohol To Minors

   The North Texas Police Chief’s Association, the Alliance on Underage Drinking (ALOUD), the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announces a new enforcement campaign titled “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most.” This campaign is the latest in zero tolerance enforcement of underage drinking laws that targets parents and teens that furnish alcohol to minors.
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   According to the Alcoholic Beverage Code (§106.06), a person commits an offense if they purchase an alcoholic beverage for, or gives, or with criminal negligence makes available an alcoholic beverage to a minor. An offense under this provision is a Class A Misdemeanor, and individuals adjudged guilty can be punishable by a fine up to $4000; confinement in jail for a term up to one year, or; both such fine and confinement.
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   A press conference will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at Dallas City Hall Plaza, detailing the new initiative. Attending will be Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, Dallas County District Attorney Bill Hill, the Administrator for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Rolando Garza, and several North Texas Area Police Chiefs.
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   Local police departments are working in partnership with ALOUD to launch a public awareness campaign in an attempt to reduce venues that serve alcoholic beverages to underage persons. Increased criminal penalties will be filed where clear evidence is found that adults and/or teens have furnished alcohol to minors.
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   “We hope to reduce the overall numbers of underage drinkers by placing more criminal responsibility on those who host the parties. Additionally we want to emphasize that teens can be charged with providing alcohol to other teens. Up until now, area law enforcement officers have been writing tickets (Class C Misdemeanor) for possession of alcohol or consumption of alcohol. Little has been done to address those who host the party to begin with,” says campaign spokesman Chief Darrell L. Fant of the Highland Park Department of Public Safety.
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   The campaign provides information about Texas laws and publicizes an anonymous toll-free number, 1-888-843-8222, which can be used to report violations of Texas’ underage drinking laws, including the provision of furnishing alcohol to minors.
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   “Too often parents look the other way when it comes to teen drinking, assuming it is a ‘rite of passage’. It is not unusual for well meaning parents to provide alcohol to their teen’s friends at home parties. We want to educate parents that providing alcohol to teens other than their own children is illegal and irresponsible,” says ALOUD Chairperson, Janet Harrison.
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   This enforcement campaign will commence as teens begin this year’s spring break, proms and graduations, which have traditionally been occasions where underage drinking occurs the most.

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