Every year the Irvine Police Department responds to approximately 2,000 loud party calls. On many of these calls, our officers are confronted with large parties where underage drinking is prevalent. These types of parties impact our community in ways that are sometimes not entirely visible.
     Recently, our officers responded to a large party involving underage drinking. When officers arrived, they found individuals involved in a physical fight with other juveniles, driving away in numerous vehicles. The street was littered with empty alcohol beverage containers and common sense would indicate that many of the drivers leaving the community had most likely been drinking.
     Further investigation revealed a street robbery had occurred on the street during the party and later in the evening, officers responded to another part of the city where there was a fight in a park followed up by another fight adjacent to the park where a young adult was injured and had to be transported to the hospital for his injuries. Additional investigation revealed that some of these same individuals had been at the prior mentioned party and had been drinking.

     My point is simple: these types of parties do impact your community, and your children. Your children may be drinking at these parties and may become a victim of an assault or a drunk driver. In addition, they may be the one operating your vehicle while driving under the influence.
     Finally, many of these parties involve binge drinking which is the most common pattern of alcohol consumption among high school youth who drink alcohol, and is strongly associated with a wide range of other health risk behaviors. These include riding with a driver who has been drinking, being the victim of dating violence, attempting suicide, and using illicit drugs.
     In addition to resources available on the Irvine Police Department website at www.Irvinepd.org, take the time to talk to your teenagers about underage drinking, know where your teenagers are at night, and if you’re away for the evening or the weekend, please provide appropriate supervision.
In closing, please take time out of your busy lives to enjoy your family. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at (949) 724-7025 or richardson@ci.irvine.ca.us.