By Angelica Kalogeridis ’15 | Staff Writer

*Names have been changed in order to protect the anonymity of students due to the social and legal repercussions involved with the content of this article.

Grosse Pointe Park Policeman Jim Bostock said underage drinking has decreased due to a steady low number of Minor in Possessions (MIPs).

Are fewer kids drinking, or have they just gotten better at hiding it?

“I think that a lot of kids are good at not getting caught by their parents or the police, so that’s why I feel like the police’s report isn’t completely accurate,” said Alexandra Gormely ‘17.

 South students are smart, Gormely said. Students know how to drink alcohol and get away with it.

“Being the oldest child of my family with no older cousins, I was kind of surprised at the amount of drinking at South,” said Gormely. “I expected a lot of drinking to go on because it’s high school, but not exactly in freshman year.”

According to a 2012 survey by National Institute of Drug Abuse, reported drinking patterns among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students, showed that 42% of 12th graders, 28% of 10th graders, and 11% of 8th graders, had consumed alcohol in the past month.

Social worker Doug Roby, who counsels students about substance abuse, says he has no hard data about Grosse Pointe underage drinking to compare to these national statistics. His perception, however, is that the problem has remained at about the same level as the report.

“I’ve been here about 20 years, and in general, it’s pretty consistent,” Roby said. “Without question, underage drinking is going on with our students.”

The amount of information provided to students about the consequences of underage drinking has increased over the years, Roby said.

“I don’t think education about alcohol has impacted young people to drink or not drink,” Roby said. “Young people think they’re invincible, and that’s not going to happen to me. But the fact is the younger we start drinking, the higher our percentage is that we are going to become more dependent on alcohol.”

Roby said that because alcohol is a major part of society, frequent TV ads and entertainment programs stimulate students’ curiosity. And this curiosity is often the root of underage drinking.

“The concern we have is that young adults are experimenting,” Roby said. “Our community controls it the best it can, but the proximity to Detroit provides increased access.”

Legal ramifications for underage drinking that affect students and even parents. First offenders caught with or consuming alcohol may get lucky with only receiving a deferred sentence, the Benedict Law Firm website reports. But, multiple MIP convictions will result in a suspension of a minor’s driving privileges. Under certain circumstances, an MIP conviction could result in an actual jail sentence.

According to Bostock, parents caught hosting parties where underage drinking occurs can face heavy fines or even jail time. Unfortunately, even though students are aware of the legal repercussions, it’s often not enough to deter them.

Brad Young*, a student at South who drinks every weekend, said knowing the parents could get in trouble while he’s drinking at their house is scary, but he believes it’s fine as long as he’s careful.

“It’s what kids in high school do. Because it’s illegal, that factor alone makes kids want to do or try it,” said Young. “South is such a hard school and the students study and work so hard, that on the weekends they just want to have fun so they drink and do something rebellious.”

Drinking is common in Grosse Pointe almost every weekend and at every party, Dan Hass ‘15 said.

“It’s not surprising if most of your friends drink,” Hass said. “It is almost expected.”

Students like Hass and Young believe that police and adults think drinking has been less of a problem, but actually, kids are just learning the rules and how to stay “safe” when consuming alcohol. In other words, they’ve mastered the art of hiding it.

“There are so many ways to hide your alcohol,” Young said. “Kids know what to do when they drink to not get caught: where to get it, how to get it, where to park their car, to not stand outside a house or walk outside while intoxicated.”

It doesn’t help that when they do get caught, repercussions are often minor, Young said.

“There may be a low number of MIPs in Grosse Pointe, but this doesn’t mean that there are less kids drinking,” said Hass. “I feel like most kids are just getting away with it when they’re are caught by the police and being driven home and given community service instead.”

Students know how each of the Pointes deal with intoxicated teenagers differently when it comes to reinforcement, Roby said.

“I hear from students that the Park and the Shores are the strictest,” said Roby. “In the Farms, students say that the police are more prone to just handing the student over to their parents instead of doing something official about it.”

Grosse Pointe Park Policeman Ryan Milroth admits that most students are diverted to community service programs when caught underage drinking.

“Its not like how it used to be,” said Milroth. “Its not like years ago when they just let the kids go. That policy has changed.”

This presents another problem: many parents expect their kids to drink, so they don’t get that upset when it happens, Roby said.

“Sometimes kids think they are getting away with it, when their parents are just turning the other way,” said Roby. “And police like to have good data, less arrests, and have their community look better. It’s something to think about.”

South health teacher Dan Griesbaum teaches his students about underage drinking and the consequences that come from it, he said. In addition to the health risks, Griesbaum makes sure his students are aware of the liability that parents have if minors are caught drinking at their homes.

If a minor is caught with alcohol, not only will there be legal repercussions, but colleges will also notice the misdemeanor on a student’s permanent record, Griesbaum said. He teaches students that the teenage brain is underdeveloped and that underage drinking can cause future mental instability and lead to a higher risk for alcohol addiction.

“Students are aware of the consequences and that there can be some serious repercussions,” Roby said, “but the fact is that underage drinking is still occurring everywhere.”

When Roby counsels a South student about underage drinking, he has a consistent message. “I want them to look at the choices they’re making and how it is impacting their lives and be honest about that,” he said. “Trying to get students to look within themselves and be honest is the key.”