Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse, Inc.

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PRESS RELEASE

 

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                JUNE 14, 2006

 

  Media please contact:  Curt Lavarello, Executive Director                                            941-922-SAFE [7233]

 

Parents who provide alcohol to minors may lose driving privilege

The Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse (SCoSA) is applauding the efforts of Governor Jeb
Bush who recently signed a new bill which will provide additional penalties for providing alcohol 
to any person under the age of 21.  “This new approach will most definitely have an impact on
our county, as we are well aware of the number of alcohol parties actually hosted by parents”, 
states Curt Lavarello, Executive Director for the coalition.
 
According to the CS / CS / SB 1322 (Driver’s License Penalties/Alcohol) bill, a person commits an
offense if they sell, give, serve, or permit to be served alcoholic beverages to a person under 21
years of age or to permit a person under 21 years of age to consume such beverages on a 
licensed premise.  The new law will be a 2nd degree misdemeanor, similar to Florida’s DUI Law.   
The new law states that effective October 1, 2006, the courts shall order the Florida 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to suspend or revoke the drivers license for
not less than three (3) months or more than six (6) months for a first violation and for 1 year for
any subsequent violation for any person who violates the new law.
 

“The new provisions of the law will not only impact parental parties, but business owners,

restaurant/lounge servers and hotels,” continued Lavarello. 

 

The 2004-2005 Sarasota County High School Youth Survey reported that alcohol is the

most used drug among high school students.  78.3% of 11th graders reported using alcohol

at least once in their lifetime, while 51.9% (over half) of 11th graders used alcohol in the past

30 days.  The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has conducted a number of STING operations targeting the sale of alcohol to minors by businesses and will continue their vigorous enforcement in this area.

 

SCoSA recently held a number of youth forums in Sarasota County and while we recognize that

businesses have sold to underage youths, the forums also revealed that a substantial number of

students reported the ease in which to obtain alcohol at their own home.  “Again, the key

is education”, stressed Lavarello, “and the new law will be one more tool in our toolbox in hopes

of saving young lives.”
 

Additional Info:  Call the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse at 941-922-7233.

 

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