Schuyler targets underage drinking

On April 3, a Watkins Glen mother was accused of buying alcohol for her daughter and friends to take with them on a spring break trip, bringing to light a problem among Schuyler County youths that officials say they are trying to combat.

A neighbor who spotted suspicious activity took action and prompted the arrest of Mary Lea Cornish, 37. She was charged with first-degree unlawful dealing with a child, a misdemeanor.

Cornish pleaded guilty to that charge April 7 in Watkins Glen Village Court. Village Justice Nicholas Dugo ordered a pre-sentencing investigation by the Schuyler County Probation Department, and will schedule sentencing for a later date.

In December, police busted an underage drinking party in Montour Falls that led to charges for 17 people ranging in age from 18 to 20. Most of them pleaded guilty and faced $50 fines, community service or a combination of both. The owner of the property where that party was held, Francis E. Elliott, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $200 fine. Elliott declined to comment when contacted by telephone.

Those are only two of many incidents made public during the past few years linking underage substance abuse to Schuyler County, officials said.

Adult complacency has been an issue in Schuyler County, said Marcia Kasprzyk, Schuyler County Public Health deputy director.

"When we conducted a health survey at the end of 2005, what really jumped out at us were the (underage) injuries related to drugs and alcohol, more than twice the state average (in Schuyler County)," Kasprzyk said. "Yes, there is a problem."

During a study in 2000, 32 percent of Schuyler County high school students reported favorable attitudes toward drug and alcohol abuse and admitted having friends that abused such substances, according to a published report from the Geneva-based Council on Alcoholism and Addiction of the Finger Lakes. About 21 percent of middle school students demonstrated the same attitudes, the report states.

Nearly 40 percent of students surveyed reported having at least one family member with a serious drug or alcohol problem, according to the report.

It's difficult to compare the rural Schuyler County with other counties because of its small size, said Billie Lohr, Council on Alcoholism and Addiction of the Finger Lakes environmental prevention specialist. A more recent study was conducted by the council in December, but the results haven't been compiled yet, she said.

"Schuyler County is smaller, but they're starting to do more to address the problem," Lohr said. "They've been in the public eye more recently than other counties because these kids are getting caught. That's not to say it isn't happening in other counties, they just aren't being caught as often.

"The community recognizes that (underage drinking) is a problem," said Matthew Hayden, Schuyler County Assistant District Attorney.

The biggest concern among parents, Lohr said, is getting the message that it is destructive behavior through to their children.

"They're concerned that it is happening, and they're hoping that the morals and values they've instilled in their children will stay with them when they leave the house," Lohr said. "Once the kids leave the house, one of the largest concerns I'm hearing is that parents don't know who they can trust with their kids."

One of the biggest challenges, Lohr and Hayden said, is changing the mind-set of the community.

Lohr's council, along with the Schuyler County Commission on Underage Drinking formed about a year ago, hold forums to educate parents about criminal and civil laws pertaining to underage drinking.

"People seem to think they can have a party at their house because it might be OK with parents of the other children, but it's not. A parent could say, 'Well, he only had two drinks at my house,' but if that kid gets into trouble, say an accident, because you were in the line of consumption, you could be on the hook, making you the liable party," Hayden said. "Only a child's parents can be the ones providing alcohol in family situations."

"Some parents have no idea they can lose everything if their kids get into trouble while drinking underage, say drinking and driving, getting into an accident and causing the death of someone else," Lohr said. "Of course, that's the worst-case scenario, but it could happen."

Penalties for underage drinkers include a $50 fine, up to 30 hours of community service or completion of an alcohol awareness program or a combination of all three, Hayden said.

"That's all we can do within the perimeters of the law," he said.

"Kids know they're not supposed to drink and drive, and for the most part, they're compliant with that," Kasprzyk said. "That said, they've only taken that piece. Now, we have to carve out the rest of the message."

"If we inform the adults, the additional knowledge will trickle down to the children," Hayden said. "This empowers parents to know the law. People are starting to get it. The concept that it's OK to drink before you're 21 is not suitable. There is no real appropriate underage drinking party."

The county's commission on underage drinking is targeting parents, teachers, coaches and anyone in a position of authority who has regular interaction with people under 21, about the legal ramifications involved, Hayden said.

"There is no overnight fix," Lohr said. "Some people ask, 'What are you going to do?' I ask, 'What are we going to do?' We're trying to change the mind-set of an entire community, and it could take a couple of generations before we see a significant change."

Meanwhile, Hayden said his office is charged with enforcing the law and prosecuting people who get caught.

"If you disagree with the law, the remedy is not to break the law," Hayden said. "Petition your representatives if you want to see it change."

Star Gazette