Officials attending the two-day Micronesia Youth Services Network conference said alcohol consumption among minors has become widespread.
But youth leaders from the different islands of Micronesia said they accept the challenge to eliminate this problem.
CNMI Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division Director David Maratita told Variety that the “easy access” to alcohol can be addressed through legislation.
For example, Maratita said the penalty imposed on a business establishment that sells liquor to unauthorized person, should be increased.
Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, said a business establishment violating the law should be shut down.
The impact on the community of selling alcohol to a minor surpasses the tax that business establishments pay to the government, he said.
After her presentation, Palau youth leader Sweety Kalbesang told Variety that the communication gap between the parents and their children is one of the factors behind youth problems.
There’s a need to strengthen the relationship within the family, she said, adding that even small a problem left unattended will force children to resort to harmful behavior.
For Gregorio Ecle, a youth leader from Guam, empowering the youth through academic and culturally based programs will give them a better outlook in life.
He said the youth, amid the strong influence of vices, should be pushed to do something commendable.
“They all have great potentials to do great things,” he said.
Alana Leon Guerrero from the CNMI said a strong influence against the use of alcohol should start within the family.
She believes that family upbringing plays an important role in guiding the youth.
Whatever good and bad deeds a person commits reflect what kind of family he or she has.
The three youth leaders agreed that the collaboration of the community, the government and schools will help address the concerns of the youth.
They noted that a minor can access alcohol by asking an adult to buy it for the minor.
The morning session yesterday focused on the problem of underage drinking and enforcing underage drinking law.
Frances Sablan, the Youth Summit steering committee chairwoman, said the participants discussed dynamic ways to combat the problems confronting the youth in the region.
“It was stressed in the conference that we all must work together to stop these problems,” she said.
Today, youth delegates from Guam, Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are expected to adopt a resolution expressing the need for a united effort to strengthen the Micronesian youth community.
