A countywide task force to study underage drinking has been formed, according to Leg. Steve Stern (D-Huntington), and it has scheduled three public hearings in coming months, including one in Dix Hills.
The 10-person task form has representatives from the Suffolk County Police Department, the County Probation and Health Services departments, the County’s STOP-DWI Program, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving.
Stern’s legislation, adopted June 26, has created a working task force that will study issues facing adolescents such as exposure to alcohol, peer pressure, the risk of carrying out or being a victim of physical or sexual assault or even death from injuries as a result of underage drinking.
“Several municipalities in New York State have undertaken aggressive campaigns to curb underage drinking and Suffolk County needs to do the same,” Stern said in a statement issued from the Legislature’s office of presiding supervisor. “Suffolk County must develop an effective strategy to combat underage drinking which, at a minimum, should include law enforcement and educational components. Too many families and too many communities continue to experience the pain of loss and injuries to loved ones as a consequence of underage drinking.”
The task force will hold its first public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Suffolk County Legislature, William H. Rogers Building in Hauppauge from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A second hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Half Hollow Hills High School East Lecture Hall, 50 Vanderbilt Pkwy., Dix Hills from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a final hearing to be scheduled in December.
The task force will expire in January and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the county Legislature and the county executive.
The members besides Stern, who will serve as chairman, are:
1 comment:
As a parent of two teenagers it is troubling that we try and teach our children about the danger of under age drinking but when you have in your neighborhood "a volunteer fireman" to whom has no teenager in the High School have a party for kids ages 13-17 and served them alcohol! That is a disgrace and sever penalties should be handed down to him and his wife who served these children!
Resident-East Islip
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