Children forbidden to use alcohol in school end parties

The police will monitor the use of intoxicants by young people across the country during the school-end weekend, said a press release.

The law enforcers will step up efforts during the weekend to control alcohol and drug use, with particular focus on places where young people gather, such as playgrounds and kindergarten and school yards. In many locations, the monitoring is carried out in co-operation with the youth and social services, and alcohol inspectors from the Regional State Administrative Agencies.

Any use of alcohol by anyone under the age of 18 will be reported to their parents and the child welfare authorities. In addition to this, it will usually result in a EUR 40 on-the-spot fine, said police.

“The purpose of police action is to prevent alcohol from being supplied to minors, and the possession and consumption of alcohol by them. The police will also react to any other public disturbance and drunken behaviour,” said Chief Superintendent Vesa Pihajoki of the National Police Board.

Since 2010, when the police stepped up measures to curb intoxicants during the school-end weekend, some 2,000 to 2,500 litres of various alcoholic beverages have been confiscated. Reports to the child welfare authorities by the police have numbered between 700 and 1,200.

“To be sure, the numbers of alcohol possession offences and reports to child welfare authorities have shown a downward trend in recent years, and we naturally wish that the trend continues”, says Chief Inspector Pihajoki.

The police also urged the adults not to supply alcohol to a single minor.

According to the police, the weekend when schools end for the summer break is the time when many children and young people have their first experiences of alcohol. Not being familiar with how much they can take may lead to alcohol poisoning.

"An intoxicated child or youth is also at an increased risk of becoming the victim of a crime or having an accident while inebriated", Pihajoki said.

Parents have the responsibility for their children and their well-being. The advice the police would like to give to the parents of children and young people preparing for end-of-school celebrations is to agree on clear party rules with your children, and contact your children over the evening.