Special to The Garden Island
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It seems that the warnings of parents, police programs, coaches, teachers and others have not caused Hawai‘i youth to stop drinking.

They can’t see or feel the brain cells that are destroyed by their drinking. They don’t know that the effects can be accumulative over years or that youth are damaged by alcohol consumption much more than adults, because teens are still developing their brain and neural systems. They don’t know that drinking too much can actually cause death because the system slows down so much that breathing stops. They don’t know that it takes roughly half as much alcohol to get a 125 pound teen intoxicated than his 250 pound uncle.

So an additional section to the law of prohibitions [prohibiting liquor handling and consumption] has been added regarding drinking and the ability to get a driver’s license. First we’ll go over the existing law. It’s Hawai‘i Revised Statute 281-101.5 for those who want to look it up on the HRS web site. A “minor” in this case is anyone under 21.

— (a) Any adult who provides or purchases liquor for consumption or use by a person under 21 shall be guilty [of Prohibitions].

— (b) No minor shall consume or purchase liquor and no minor shall consume or have liquor in [his/her] possession in any public place…or in any motor vehicle on a public highway. [excluding minors delivering alcohol for their work; participating in religious ceremonies requiring it; or acting for law enforcement or the department of health in controlled activities]

— (c) No minor shall falsify any identification or use any false identification or identification of another person or of a fictitious person for the purpose of buying or attempting to buy liquor or for the purpose of obtaining employment to sell or serve liquor on licensed premises.

— (d) Any person under age 18 who violates this section shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the family court. Any person age 18-21 who violates (b) or (c) shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

Now pay attention to the following part regarding driver’s licenses. Being guilty of Prohibitions doesn’t mean that you’ve necessarily been caught drinking and driving. It may mean that alcohol is just in your possession publicly. I’ve even had cases that involved a respondent who was told just to “hold” the alcohol for a friend, who vanished. The friend didn’t get busted for prohibitions, but the one holding the alcohol did. I urge youth to NOT hold alcohol or pot for a friend. You can be the one detained for either.

— The court shall order that any person under 21 found to be in violation of this section shall have, in addition to any other disposition or sentencing provision permitted bylaw, the person’s license to operate a motor vehicle, or the person’s ability to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle , suspended as follows:

— (1) For licensed drivers, the driver’s license shall be suspended for not less than 180 days with exceptions to allow, at the discretion of the sentencing court, driving to and from school, school-sponsored activities, and employment.

— (2) For persons with a provisional license, their license will be suspended for not less than 180 days with exceptions to all, at the discretion of the sentencing court, driving to and from school, school-sponsored activities and employment.

— (3) For persons with an instruction permit, the instruction permit shall be suspended for not less than 180 days with exceptions to allow for driving to and from school or employment

— (4) For persons not licensed to drive, eligibility to obtain a driver’s license, provisional license, or instruction permit shall be suspended until the age of 17 or for 180 days, at the discretion of the court.

I hope that you are now aware of what the consequences of your drinking or holding alcohol could be. Is it worth it?

Get high on the goodness and love around you, and if there isn’t any, then make some! What we all really need is Love, and here is a quick review of the 5 ways that research has shown that people accept love. If one doesn’t work, try another. Most of them cost only time and you’ll also benefit from loving another. Do your own research here.

1. Acts of Service. It just might be worth more to your parents to babysit your siblings, or cook a candle light dinner for them, than buying a present you think that they might like. Tutu might like the car washed, or house cleaned.

2. Quality Time. Everyone is so busy these days. How about making a card that says “I want to spend __ hours with you, doing the activity of your choice.”

3. Affection. Research has actually shown that babies don’t grow well without being cuddled and loved. Inside every big person is a little child who still loves to be hugged, or maybe have a shoulder massage, or hands held, or get sweet kisses.

4. Affirmations. Saying kind or loving things to another, and giving them compliments says that you’ve noticed them, and they matter to you. Feels good!

5. Gifts. Yes, we like to get gifts, especially when someone noticed that we needed a new whatever, or wanted to make our lives easier, brighter, prettier, by giving us something. The added benefit is that whenever the person sees the gift, they will remember you.

So, be safe, and help others be safe too. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And remember that you have an unlimited supply of what the world really needs, which is love.

— Thanks to attorney Sara Silverman for this information.

• Questions? A support group of adults in our Kaua’i community have “stepped into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families! Please e-mail your questions and concerns facing our youth and families today to LaVerne Bishop, Program Director of Hale ‘Opio, at lbishop@haleopio.org.