After Prom 2019

Plan to Attend It’s a Colorful World!

Van Buren County Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and the SAFE Coalition will hold “It’s a Colorful World” – Color Run & Town Hall Meeting with parents, students, law enforcement, community members and health professionals to discuss underage drinking, vaping, and CBD Oil/Marijuana prevention. Everyone is invited to attend!

WHO: The Roundtable Presenter will be Kitty Bogle, CPS, Sieda Community Action

WHAT: It’s a Colorful World will include the following:

Color Run/Walk from 5:00-6:00 pm

Free Will Donation Dinner cooked by the Van Buren County Cattleman at 6:00 pm

A Colorful Future for Van Buren County Youth presentation from 6:15-7:15 pm

WHEN: Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm with the program beginning at 6:15pm

WHERE: Roberts Memorial Center- Keosauqua

ADDITIONAL INFO: Pre-register for the Color Run/Walk for $10 and Event T-shirts are available for an extra $10 with pre-registration by March 26^th with Amanda Payne at 319-293-8701.  You can join the Color Run/Walk on April 10, 2019 for $10 at the door. 

Underage drinking is a pressing public health concern that affects the health and well-being of our nation’s youth, their families and our community. On the 2016 Iowa Youth Survey 11^th grade students reported that 27% did have at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days and that 83% of them believe it would be easy to very easy to get alcohol in the Van Buren County area.   Underage drinking contributes to a range of costly health and social problems, including traffic fatalities, suicide, physical and sexual assault, brain impairment, alcohol dependence, academic problems and alcohol and drug poisoning. In 2013, underage drinking cost citizens of the United States $56.9 billion, according to data from the Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center. These costs include medical care, work loss and pain & suffering associated with underage drinking.

For additional information about the event please contact the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition at 319-293-3334 ext. 1017 or email at safe.coalition@van-burencsd.org or Amanda Payne at 319-293-8701.

For more information about the national 2019 Town Hall Meeting initiative, which is expected to involve more than 2,000 communities, please visit: https://blog.samhsa.gov/2019/01/14/samhsa-launches-the-2019-communities-talk-town-hall-meetings-to-prevent-underage-drinking

Prom—Parents, have you talked to your teen about alcohol yet?

You as a parent may be able to prevent your child from becoming the next statistic by setting a few simple rules about underage drinking.  Before sending your teens off to prom, talk to them about alcohol—it just may save their life. 

Here are some tips on how to prepare your teen for these events: 

·         Make sure your child has a plan for the evening and that you know it.

·         Set rules with your child and stick to them.

·         Let the consequences be known and stick to them.

·         DO NOT HOST A PARTY FOR MINORS—underage drinking is illegal.  You as a parent are liable, and could face legal consequences.  Allowing a party with alcohol on your property, even if you do not provide the alcohol is now illegal per the Iowa State Social Host Law. 

·         Take stock of the alcohol in your house.

·         Discuss the school’s rules with your child and the consequences for violating them.

·         Disapprove of underage drinking.

·         Do NOT rent hotel rooms for prom-goers.

·         Communicate with other parents and school officials about the on-goings of the night so you are informed. 

·         Stay up for the prom-goer’s return home.

·         Encourage your teen to attend the schools post-prom party

Van Buren/Harmony After Prom

April 13^th & 14^th  

12:00 P.M. – 6:00 A.M.

Harmony Elementary School

Activities to include: Hypnotist, Comedian, Caricature Artists, Obstacle Course,

Human Soccer Ball, Bungee Run, Movie, Photo Booth, Cards & Board Games and much more!

Prizes, Food and Beverages provided!

Registration & Admission: Juniors/Seniors will receive a free t-shirt with their free admission if registered by March 29, 2019!  Underclassmen & Other Guests will receive a free t-shirt with their $7 admission fee if registered by March 29, 2019!

Registration Forms Due to Robin By: April 12, 2019 at 12:00 pm – noon

For more information on talking to your children about alcohol, feel free to visit the SAFE Coalition website at www.vbsafecoalition.com or call 319-293-3334 ext. 1017.

Local Social Host Ordinance FAQ

Q:  Who is a social host?

A:  The ordinance states: A social host is any person who aids, conducts, allows, entertains, organizes, supervises, controls, or permits an event, gathering, or party.  This includes, but is not limited to: a) the person(s) who owns, rents, leases, or otherwise has control of the premises where the event, gathering, or party takes place; b) the person(s) in charge of the premises; or c) the person(s) who organized the event.  If the social host is a juvenile, then the parent(s) of that juvenile will be jointly and severally liable for any violation of this chapter. 

Q:  Does the Social Host Ordinance apply to property owners who are not present and do not know about the underage consumption of alcohol on their property?

A:  The ordinance states:  The social host knowingly permits or allows underage persons to consume alcoholic beverages, and/or controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs; The social host reasonably should know that an underage person or persons has consumed alcoholic beverages, and/or controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs; The social host knowingly permits or allows underage persons to possess an alcoholic beverage, and/or controlled substance(s), and/or prescription drug(s).  A social host who hosts such an event, gathering, or party does not need to be on the premises at the time the prohibited act occurs to be in violation of this chapter. 

A social host has an affirmative defense if the social host took reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs such as contacting law enforcement and allowing officers onto the premises for the purpose of stopping these illegal activities.

So, if the property is utilized for an underage drinking party without the owner’s knowledge the owner cannot be held liable. 

Q:  Does the Social Host Ordinance apply to events on Public Property?

A:  The ordinance states that a premises is any home, yard, farm, field, land, apartment, condominium, hotel or motel room, or other dwelling units, or a hall or meeting room, park or any other places of assembly, public or private, whether occupied on a temporary or permanent basis, whether occupied as a dwelling or specifically for a party or other social function, and whether owned, leased, rented, or used with or without permission or compensation.

So if an event is held on public property where underage persons are consuming alcohol and the host knowingly allows the consumption to go on they can be held liable. 

A social host has an affirmative defense if the social host took reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs such as contacting law enforcement and allowing officers onto the premises for the purpose of stopping these illegal activities.

Q:  Does the Social Host Ordinance give authorities permission to enter private property without permission?

A:  This ordinance does not allow authorities to come on private property without permission.

For more about the Social Host Ordinance please contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-3334 ext. 1017 or safe.coalition@van-burencsd.org. 

It's a Colorful World! Color Run/Walk & Town Hall Event

This St. Paddy’s Day, Don’t Rely on the Luck o’ the Irish: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving

For decades, Americans across the country have come together to celebrate their Irish heritage (Irish or not) over a pint of green beer and community festivities. Sadly, all this merry-making can lead to dangerous driving conditions as party-goers head home. In 2017 alone, 59 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Paddy’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18). The selfish act of drinking and driving can rip people from their friends and loved ones forever. For this reason, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office and SAFE Coalition are working to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving. Even one drink can be one too many. If you’re heading out for the Irish festivities, plan ahead and remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. 

Tragically, March 17 has become a dangerous holiday on our nation’s roads. According to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, more than one-third (37%) of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. The early hours of March 18, 2017, were the most dangerous. Between midnight and 5:59 a.m., three-fourths (75%) of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. In fact, from 2013 to 2017, over one-third (35%) of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had blood alcohol concentrations well above the .08 limit, with 234 drunk-driving fatalities total. Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly, as lack of attention to their surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.

St. Patrick’s Day should be a fun holiday for our community members, but we expect everyone to take responsibility for their actions. Whether you’re driving yourself or your friends, make sure you stay sober or plan for a sober ride home. Remember: It’s not just about you. There are other people on the roads who want to get where they are going safely. Don’t let alcohol cause you to be a risk to yourself and others on the road. Drinking and driving is an act of selfishness. Before you put your keys in the ignition, remind yourself: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you feel a buzz, you are in no shape to drive.

Drunk driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our nation’s roads. If drivers are impaired by any substance—alcohol or drugs—they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving while impaired is illegal, period. The bottom line is this: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. It’s that simple.

Drinking and driving should never be combined. It’s essential to plan a sober ride in advance if the holiday celebration will include alcohol. The alternative could change your life, not to mention the lives of your passengers, of pedestrians, or of other drivers and passengers nearby.

This holiday season, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, SAFE Coalition, and NHTSA urge drivers to designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. If you plan on drinking, plan on not driving.

First and foremost: Plan ahead. If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously—your friends are relying on you.

·         Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober to get home safely.

·         Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available on Google Play for Android devices: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide&hl=en), and Apple’s iTunes Store for iOS devices: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8). SaferRide allows users to call a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so they can be picked up.

·         If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office. 

·         Have a friend who is about to drive after drinking? Take their keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

If you are buzzed, do not drive. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

Underage Alcohol Use – Not a Rite of Passage

Many people dismiss underage drinking as a normal “rite of passage” in adolescents.  However, it is important to remember that alcohol is one of the most common contributors to injury, death, and criminal behavior among youth (Hingson and Kenkel, 2004). Underage alcohol use can have immediate and potentially tragic consequences as well as long-range harmful consequences, such as increased risk for chronic alcohol addiction (Grant and Dawson, 1997). Enforcement activities to limit youth access to alcohol are critical to reducing underage drinking and its often tragic consequences.

Who is a Social Host?  A social host is someone who knowingly allows an underage person to consume alcohol illegally on the host’s property. 

What is Social Host Liability?  Social Host Liability is the legal term for the criminal responsibility of a person who allows such illegal activity.

What would this ordinance/law aim to do?

·         The Social Host Ordinance /Law is aimed at those who allow persons under legal age to consume alcoholic beverages in or on property they own or control.

·         This ordinance/law would address enforcement and prosecution problems where persons knowingly permit or allow underage drinkers to have a party on their property, even when the owner didn’t supply the alcohol, and persons, including parents, who knowingly permit or allow their children’s friends to consume alcohol at their home, even where the parents didn’t supply the alcohol. 

·         The ordinance/law only applies to those who know the underage drinking is going on and do not stop it, or who gave permission for it to occur in the first place.  It would not apply to persons who did not know the underage drinking was occurring on their property.  For example, if the parents were away, and their child had a party at their home and the parents were unaware of it, those parents would not be charged.

Why is This Important?

·         We want our youth to grow up to be strong, healthy and drug-free.

·         Even when the property owner did not supply the alcohol, it is still illegal for underage youth to consume alcohol. Adults, including parents, who knowingly permit youth to consume alcohol at their home, are sending the wrong message to our youth.

·         Currently, only the person who actually physically sells or gives the alcohol to the person under legal age can be prosecuted.

·         Underage drinkers may obtain the alcohol from one person, and then go somewhere else to drink it.  Common examples are parties that take place in rural areas, or at the home of one of the underage drinkers.  Adults have told police they knew about the party and it was okay with them, “because the kids weren’t driving and I knew where they were.”  This is still condoning illegal behavior.  Currently, there is no charge that applies to these situations.

Neighboring Jefferson County passed a similar ordinance on September 20, 2013. The SAFE Coalition consulted with Jefferson County's Assistant County Attorney Pat McAvan in regard to their ordinance.  McAvan shared, “Law Enforcement and Prosecutors hope that they never have to charge a violation of this ordinance in Jefferson County.  The primary goal is to educate people and change the community’s attitude about underage drinking and substance abuse while providing a mechanism to redirect poor decisions.  This ordinance is the tool that will do both.” 

He also shared the following:

·         Since the ordinance was enacted in Jefferson County and the City of Fairfield they have each only had one investigation.   In both cases the offending party moved out of the area before they could be prosecuted. 

·         The successes are hard to measure but they are there.  The community is more aware of this issue and their responsibility if they are a social host.  In addition, there has been a slight increase in communication with law enforcement when something does happen or is planned in the County.  People would rather speak up ahead of time than face charges after the fact. 

Read more about Social Host in next week’s paper.  For more information please contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-3334 ext. 1017 or safe.coalition@van-burencsd.org or attend the coalition’s next Community Conversation on August 8^th at 6:00 pm at the Great Day Café (free meal provided) to learn more about the topic.