April 4, 2008 — Underage drinking is on the rise in the Virgin Islands, and the St. Croix Unity Coalition held a panel discussion Thursday to address the issue.
Attending the forum at the University of the Virgin Islands were 35 students and adults. The topic was "Underage Drinking: Start Talking, Before They Start Drinking."
The number of children who start to drink at a young age is growing, said Denise Lewis, president of the St. Croix Unity Coalition (SCUC). Alcohol use in children has risen from 35 to 45 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to a national survey.
"These statistics are alarming," Lewis said. "We need to talk to young people and get their views on what is going on."
Teens in the territory have easier access to alcohol because of loose drinking laws and a lower legal drinking age of 18, according to a news release from SCUC. Lewis said 90 percent of the time minors are not required to show proof of age.
The panel included Alegenia Maffei, a junior at Educational Complex; her mother, Eugenia Maffei; Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson; Kim Nosek, director of treatment service at the Village Partners in Recovery; Magdalena Santana-Nieves, program coordinator of project Hibiscus at the Village; Marren Roebuck, Department of Health; and Dennis Lynch, UVI student and member of Unity Coalition Youth Component.
There should be stiffer vendor laws with fines for selling to minors, Roebuck said. She also thinks the drinking age in the Virgin Islands needs to be raised to 21.
"With all of this in mind, we need to have dialogues with the governor and start initiatives," Roebuck said. "As adults, we're committed to enforce fines and laws."
The student panelists said peer pressure and choosing the right friends makes a difference in their lives.
"Teens need to think for themselves and not go with the crowd," Maffei said.
Lynch said he thinks there should be school programs educating students about the danger of underage drinking. Santana-Nieves agreed there has to be more prevention education, with the government getting more involved.
"We need to teach about choices and consequences," Nelson said. "Children need to learn positive habits and attitudes."
Drinking could also be a coping mechanism to hide other issues such as abuse, he said.
Roebuck echoed Nelson, saying kids have a sense of hopelessness and alcohol masks the pain.
Parents have to play a bigger part in their children's lives, panelists said.
"We need to take back our homes, be proactive and good role models," Roebuck said.
Parent panelist Eugenia Maffei said parents should become good role models. She explained that some kids see drinking at home as normal behavior. Parents should get more actively involved in discussing the down side of drinking, she said.
While Lewis expressed disappointment at the turnout, she hopes word of mouth will carry its message.
"It will be great if each one here takes this message to at least three other people," Lewis said. "We will continue to press on with youth organizations, PTAs and churches."
Sponsoring the forum were the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Coordinating Committee on Underage Drinking. Hosting the forum was SCUC, in collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands' Division of Student Affairs.
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