“Over time, the so-called ‘experimental’ underage drinking will be viewed by our youth population and the community in general as a generally acceptable and tolerated behavior because the community failed to institute effective intervening and contravening measures against underage drinking above and beyond the infrequent spot checks by understaffed police and commerce personnel in village retail outlets,” he said.
Camacho, a member of the Saipan Neighborhood Watch Inc., delivered his anti-underage drinking message during the recent Criminal Justice Planning Agency Youth Advisory Panel meeting at the Pacific Islands Club.
He said the Neighborhood Watch Task Force wants to help curb underage alcohol consumption on island.
Through the Saipan Neighborhood Watch Inc, he said they will seek funding for a campaign against the prevalence of alcohol consumption.
He said the Saipan Neighborhood Watch Inc. will need $88,000 for innovative programs and a public advertising project against underage drinking.
“The members of the Saipan Village Watch Inc. are deeply troubled by a seemingly unregulated behavior exhibited by minors over their alcohol consumption pattern in our local community,” Camacho said.
The prevalence of alcohol consumption, he said, is seen in almost all walks of life on island during fiestas, beachside barbecues, Friday night home barbecues, birthdays, weddings, holidays, political rallies and campaigns, and even during liturgical services in churches.
Based on their information, most of the underage drinking occurs in hamlets, village spots, and other hidden public places in residential areas, Camacho said.
“Modern day underage drinking without an effective lawful prohibition of retail alcohol to minors require an all out frontline of first responders in the inner villages, by forming village coalitions uniting village residents to tackle the growing problem,” he said
He said it will take the entire village to eradicate the problem of alcoholism among the adult and youth populations on Saipan.
Camacho said their plan to help enforce anti-underage drinking law will “apply a cultural perspective,” and will involve the villages of Dandan, Susupe, Chalan Kanoa, Kagman, Tanapag, Koblerville and Chinatown.
