New Hampshire Wants Delivery Drivers, Hotel Staff to Fight Teen Drinking
A New Hampshire law makes it a misdemeanor for minors, parents,
or any owner or occupant of any address to host parties where alcohol
and other drugs are consumed by minors, the Portsmouth Herald reported
May 26.
"It's not necessarily just in a home," said Sgt. Mike
Schwartz, who is in charge of the Juvenile Division of the Portsmouth
Police Department. "It could be an apartment or even a hotel
room."
Schwartz said the law took effect just in time for prom and graduation
season, when many underage-drinking parties take place.
As a means of enforcing the law, the Portsmouth Police Department
has launched an initiative called "Booze Bounty," in which
local food deliverers and hotel clerks will receive a monetary reward
if they report suspicious activity that they may see when they deliver
food or give hotel keys to partygoers.
"The message being sent to parents is that it's not safe for
them to host a party," said Jackie Valley, of the Community
Diversion Program in Greenland. "This doesn't change the fact
that youths using alcohol is still illegal."
Area businesses are receptive to the police initiative -- as long
as they can remain anonymous when reporting a tip. "My employees
have enough contact with these customers to know what's going on,"
said the manager of a Portsmouth delivery restaurant, who asked
that neither he nor his business be identified. "I don't want
my drivers to feel like they're junior police officers, but I'm
willing to help."
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