San Diego City Wire

With schools out for summer, the risk of teens and children gaining access to alcohol increases when parents are at work and teens may be unsupervised. Minors often obtain alcohol or marijuana through older friends, strangers willing to buy it for them, store clerks who fail to check IDs, online purchases, friends' parents, and sometimes their own parents.

The Sheriff's Department is reminding adults that it is illegal to provide alcohol or marijuana to minors, host underage drinking parties, or allow minors to drink or use marijuana. "The Sheriff’s Department takes these incidents very seriously and will continue to work with the District Attorney, the County, and our contract cities to ensure those responsible for these underage incidents are held accountable," said Undersheriff Rich Williams.

Underage drinking and drug use can impact a teen’s health, safety, and judgment. Consequences include alcohol poisoning, cannabis use disorder, assaults, drunk or drugged driving, accidental injuries, property damage, and unprotected sex.

All 18 incorporated municipalities and the unincorporated areas of the County have adopted “social host” ordinances making it illegal to host underage drinking or marijuana parties. Any person who sells or provides an alcoholic beverage to a minor can face up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both.

Parents play a key role in preventing underage drinking. Health and safety experts recommend several tips for parents:

- Stay Involved: Spend time with your children doing fun and interactive activities.

- Communicate: Talk about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

- Set Rules: Establish clear rules regarding drinking and marijuana use.

- Supervise: Be physically present when possible; otherwise ask a neighbor or relative to check on them.

- Monitor: Know what your children are doing and where they are at all times.

- Engage: Help your children find summer jobs or supervised activities like sports camps.

- Team Up: Get to know the parents of your children's friends to ensure shared values on underage drinking.

Educating residents about making healthy choices is part of Live Well San Diego's initiative to improve community health.

If you have information about an underage drinking or marijuana use party, you can call the Crime Stoppers Anonymous Tip Line at (888) 580-8477. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward.

Parents suspecting their child might have a drinking or drug problem are encouraged to call the County of San Diego Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240 or 211.

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