TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - May is the month for graduation in Southern Arizona, that also means graduation parties and the Pima County Sheriff's Department is taking a zero-tolerance approach to underage drinking.
"We want to stop, mostly, underage drinking and driving," said Sgt. Dawn Barkman. She works with the DUI Unit.
Barkman says, for students who drink at a graduation party, judgment is often the first thing to fall by the wayside.
"It's difficult for them to make the responsible decision when they are so young," she said.
When a drunk teen gets behind the wheel, the night could turn from celebratory to sad in an instant.
For example, in May 2014, six teenagers were injured in a rollover accident near Vail. Investigators said alcohol may have been a factor and those teenagers had been at a graduation ceremony earlier in the evening.
There is a responsibility for parents too. Barkman says they should not feel pressure to be the "cool mom" or "cool dad" and give underage kids alcohol.
In the movie Mean Girls, Amy Poehler is seen playing the "cool mom" and offers alcohol to a group of high schoolers.
"Do you want a little bit, because if you're going to drink I'd rather you do it in the house," said Poehler's character.
Barkman says even if a parent takes all precautions to keep them from driving, there is always still a chance teenagers could end up on the road.
"Those kids are going to have to go somewhere for the night so they are going to leave in their vehicles, or maybe they planned to stay the night but they got into a fight or argument and then they decide to leave. Judgment is the first thing to go. Those individuals are now on the street intoxicated," said Barkman.
She also says to keep tabs on any party you have in your home or one your child may be at. Even if it begins small and without alcohol, word can spread fast among teenagers and other kids could come with booze.
Since May 2010, deputies have enforced the Pima County Social Host ordinance. If a deputy locates underage drinkers on your property, you can be arrested and charged with one count of the ordinance for every person under 21 drinking there. For instance, if there are 20 kids drinking that is 20 charges of the ordinance.
Deputy Ryan Inglett says since 2010 they have made 48 arrests on the Social Host Ordinance.
If deputies find underage drinkers they could add other charges like Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. In May, deputies often see a spike. There were 89 arrests for that charge in May 2013, 92 arrests in May 2014, and 92 arrests in May 2015. Not all of them are alcohol related.
If someone is injured or killed after they leave a party, the adult there could face felony charges if they provided alcohol.
