Story Tools

Email this story | Print this story

Indexes

Today's Stories

Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• $60,000 in damage

• Galt councilwoman fined

• Low turnout forecast for election today

• Woman accused of embezzling thousands from Lodi business

• How do you want the county to look 40 years from now? Let planners know

• Regional Roundup

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 7th, 2009

• Lodi High graduate was at Fort Hood

• Lining up for flu shots in Lodi

• Tour packs buses as birdwatchers admire Sandhill cranes

• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks

• Daytime thieves targeting Lodi homes

• Lodi High School rally featured on 'Good Day Sacramento'

• Out of control

• Homicide suspect Anthony Hubbard arraigned

• Regional Roundup

• New Lodi Memorial rule to combat spread of H1N1: Visitors must be older than 16

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

November 4th, 2009

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

November 3rd, 2009

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• Clarification

November 2nd, 2009

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Regional Roundup

• Group investigates reports of haunting

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (73)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (60)
• Universal health care solves big problems (54)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (35)
• Words from our forefathers (27)
• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (24)
• Majority cannot deprive the minority (23)

ADVERTISEMENT

Parents should educate children about perils of underage drinking

As the school year comes to an end, the Lodi Police Department will see a growing number of calls involving underage drinking. While this should be a time of year for our teenagers to celebrate their accomplishments from the year past, their fun can quickly lead to tragedy when it involves alcohol.

According to the NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 will die each year in the United States due to alcohol-related incidents. These deaths range from automobile and other alcohol-related accidents to alcohol poisoning and even suicide. Last summer in Lodi, a young girl was rushed to the hospital and admitted to ICU after being found extremely intoxicated in a Downtown alley.

As reported by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), in 2007, 62 percent of eighth-graders in the U.S. reported that it was "very easy" or "fairly easy" to get alcohol, compared to 82.6 percent of tenth-graders and 92.2 percent of twelfth-graders.

You may be asking yourself, "How do young people obtain alcohol?" Here is a list of the most common sources:

• The household liquor cabinet — An easy way to avoid your liquor cabinet becoming the source of underage drinking activity is to make sure you lock all cabinets containing alcoholic beverages.

• Older friends and parents — Many adults and parents feel that it is "no big deal" for underage children to drink. We also hear parents say "I'd rather know where my child is going to be…" or, "They are going to do it anyway…" It is a criminal offense to provide alcohol to minors. Adults that provide alcohol to minors also open themselves to civil liability. Before allowing your child to leave your home, make sure to know where they are going. Talk to the parents of their friends, and make it clear to them that you do not want your child to consume alcohol.

• Strangers — Last summer, Lodi PD conducted a "shoulder tap" sting and arrested six adults who allegedly bought alcohol for undercover Police Cadets who were under 21 years of age. If you suspect someone of providing a minor with alcohol, call Lodi Police immediately.

It is important for parents to educate children on the dangers of underage alcohol consumption. Talking with your children about their plans and setting consistent guidelines will not only help the Lodi Police Department with controlling the problem of underage alcohol consumption, but it could save your child's life. For more information on teen alcohol abuse, see www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.

Any comments, questions or advice for Behind the Badge can be e-mailed to jbiskup@pd.lodi.gov or mailed to Jeanie Biskup, Lodi Police Department, 215 W. Elm Street, Lodi, CA 95240, phone (209)333-6864.