Youths guard peers vs. alcohol, tobacco

CNMI’s elected youth leaders are apparently reserving no sympathy for their fellow youths caught in violating alcohol or tobacco enforcement laws.

In a bid to thoroughly reform today’s young generation from being tangled in the treacherous web spawned by alcohol and tobacco-related vices, the Third CNMI Youth Congress has taken a zero-tolerance stance pertaining to policies of underage alcohol and tobacco consumption.

The youth organization passed during its third regular session over the weekend an act that seeks to tighten the enforcement of existing measures that promote anti alcohol or tobacco use among minors.

The Youth Congress legislation, authored by youth senator Ramona Concepcion and co-sponsored by youth senator Aileen Ada, offers amendments to the currently established anti tobacco and alcohol statutes.

The young leaders have taken a firmer line with regard to penalties for young offenders who will violate tobacco purchase and use or alcohol beverage purchase and use laws.

According to the measure, any person under the age of 18 caught smoking any tobacco products shall have his/her CNMI driver’s license suspended until he/she has reached the age of 18.

Further, any person under the age of 21 apprehended while purchasing alcoholic beverages whether it be from a retail or wholesale establishment or from a bar or restaurant shall have his/her driver’s license suspended until they reach the age of majority for drinking alcohol in the Commonwealth.

The legislation’s authors also added that any person caught in the manner specified in the act shall not be permitted to acquire a CNMI driver’s license until he/she has reached the age of majority.

The young leaders believe that certain sectors in the CNMI’s youth block have callously disregarded laws on the use of restricted substance, in particular tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

“Youth Congress is of the view that the legal requirement of maturity in regard to purchase and usage of such substances are found upon legitimate concerns pertaining to the health and welfare of our youth,” said the youth group.

The elected leaders explained that the enforcement of stricter compliance with current laws is an important step towards helping reduce the number of vehicular collisions in the CNMI.

According to them, stricter rules of compliance with such laws will help to ensure that CNMI’s youngest citizens will not so often witness their older teenage siblings and their friends purchasing or consuming alcohol and tobacco-related substances.

This, in turn, will encourage healthier role modeling for children of the Commonwealth, youth leaders said.