Police broke up a graduation party in West Ocean City, Md., at which underage drinking and a fight were reported, in the early hours of May 29, Delmarva Now reports. Charges are pending against the owner of the home for contributing to the delinquency of minors, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and serving alcohol to minors.
Three people were injured and brought to a local hospital, one with induries sustained in an assault that took place outside the home and two who were unconscious because they had consumed too much alcohol or used too many drugs, the paper noted, citing police reports.
The term “underage drinking” applies when anyone under the minimum legal drinking age of 21 drinks alcohol. It isn’t always illegal in every state, but it is always pernicious. For example, Maryland law allows underage drinking “in a private residence or within the curtilage of the residence,” provided a parent or guardian is present. That does not appear to be the situation in West Ocean City, where the state’s social host law may come into effect. The host of an underage drinking party is only liable if he or she has actual knowledge that consumption of alcohol is taking place.
However, underage drinking is always destructive, mainly because young people drink less often than adults, but when they do, they drink more, consuming, on average, five drinks per occasion.
In the US, about 5,000 people under 21 die every year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries, including falls, burns, and drowning. Drinking also causes impaired judgment, leading kids to drive drunk and make other bad decisions, such as engaging in risky sexual activity or violence.
Alcohol use also puts kids at an increased risk for being victimized by physical or sexual assault.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the National Institutes of Health, has identified the following warning signs that underage people are developing a drinking problem:
- Changes in mood, including anger and irritability
- Academic or behavioral problems in school
- Rebelliousness
- Changing groups of friends
- Low energy level
- Less interest in activities or care in appearance
- Problems concentrating and/or remembering
- Slurred speech or coordination problems
