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| 5 October 2000 - The San Diego Union-Tribune Teens battle underage drinking By David E. Graham Some San Diego County high school students called on public safety officials yesterday to join young people in an attempt to discourage underage drinking. At an age when many youths are eager to try alcohol, these students say they want their peers to be aware of the damage alcohol can cause, from accidents to health problems. "I've lost friendships to people who wanted to pressure me to drink," said Michael Zepeda, 16, a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School. Michael joined about 20 students from around the county in making the appeal outside the County Administration Building yesterday. Public officials responded. Sheriff Bill Kolender, San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano and Assemblywoman Susan Davis turned out to praise the youths' effort. Many of the teen-agers had gone to Riverside this week for a statewide meeting of young people seeking ways to curb underage drinking. Social services organizations, including Communities Against Substance Abuse in El Cajon, help guide the students and helped organize yesterday's meeting on the steps of the county building. Among the numerous suggestions, the youths want a ban? on billboards that advertise alcohol within 1,000 feet of schools. A group of students from Montgomery High School said peer counseling efforts can help dissuade students from drinking, as can organizing social events that do not include alcohol. "That peer pressure means a lot," Bejarano said. He said the majority of high school seniors consume alcohol and one-third of 13-year-olds have tried it. The students even suggested that partygoers call police to social events where adults, including parents, serve alcohol to underage people. The legal drinking age in California is 21. Article Snapshot (46K) |
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