By Leah Murray

Police weigh in on underage drinking

Jul 27, 2017 | 4:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The mother of a local teenager, who was rushed to hospital after he passed out and was unresponsive following a night of drinking, says more needs to be done to target those supplying teens with alcohol.

The incident happened Monday night at a house party at a home in Crescent Heights where the teens were reportedly drinking heavily.

The 15-year-old boy was found unresponsive by friends.

CHAT News spoke with the mother of the boy on Wednesday, and she asked that we don’t identify her by name.

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She says she received a call from paramedics, telling her that her 15-year-old son had been taken to hospital after drinking so much he passed out at the party.

According to the mother, her son was unconscious for 15 minutes before an ambulance was called. Instead of calling for help, the mother says his friends just stood around laughing at him.

The mother admits this isn’t the first time she’s dealt with her son drinking alcohol.

She says this was the latest in a number of incidents the family has been dealing with, and that they’ve been trying everything including counselling to help their son.

The mom also said one of the biggest problems is some of her son’s friends. She said there is one 18-year-old man who knowingly and willingly supplies alcohol to their son and other minors.

“We’ve tried, we’ve phoned the police because we know he’s going to a place that is supplying him with alcohol,” she explained. “We’ve tried to even reach out to that young man that is 18, that has his own place, and tell him to stop and he just laughs in our face.”

Police say they weren’t called to the home on Monday so no investigation has been launched.

Police note a parent or other individual found giving booze to minors likely wouldn’t face any criminal charges, but could face a $175 fine for violating the Gaming and Liquor Act.

Criminal charges would only be laid in extreme cases where police could prove there was obvious gross negligence on the part of the accused.

Inspector Joe West said police also run into a problem when it comes to proving beyond a reasonable doubt who supplied the alcohol to the minors.

“Police have to prove absolutely that occurred and sometimes it becomes difficult,” West explained.

“For example, if the primary witness is a youth who refuses to provide a statement about being sold alcohol by an adult, it’s a very difficult charge to prove.”

While criminal charges aren’t laid often in these types of cases police say parents and other adults do have a moral responsibility to ensure they aren’t providing teens with tools and substances that can harm them, like liquor or other drugs.

The 15 year old has been released from hospital and the boy’s mother said he will have no lasting effects from the incident. She hopes this incident will drive home the message of how dangerous underage drinking can be.