Teen Drinking

Re Dana Parsons' Dec. 18 column, "Teen's Story on Drinking Still Unread": I applaud Parsons for highlighting teen drinking and associated concerns. With over 60% of teens consuming alcohol statewide, there is no secret that Orange County's teens are drinking. I support the decision of the Orange County high school senior in her attempt to open up the issue of student leaders' drinking and the impact it has on other students. The real focus should be on the availability of alcohol to youth in liquor stores and by parents at parties.

They came early and they came prepared. For months, Andrew Landsiedel, Adam Redding-Kaufman and Macklin Thornton had been protesting a proposed city ordinance that would fine adults who knowingly provided minors with a place to drink. This week, the three Laguna Beach High School students took center stage in a packed City Council meeting to argue against the measure. Their opposition was formidable - school officials, a deputy district attorney, medical doctors, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the local PTA and even a tearful father whose only son was killed by a drunk driver.

Fewer teens drink and smoke cigarettes than in any time in the last 30 years, but the widespread availability of medical marijuana appears to be fueling a rise in pot use, health experts said Wednesday. One in four of the 47,000 teens surveyed for the 2011 Monitoring the Future report said they had used marijuana during the last year, up from 21.4% in 2007. The survey, which polled students nationwide in the eighth, 10th and 12th grades, also found that 1 in 15 of the oldest students used pot on a daily or near-daily basis - the highest rate since 1981.

Six teenagers have shown up in two San Fernando Valley emergency rooms in the last few months with alcohol poisoning after drinking hand sanitizer, worrying public health officials who say the cases could signal a dangerous trend. Some of the teenagers used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer, making a potent drink that is similar to a shot of hard liquor. "All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager," said Cyrus Rangan, director of the toxicology bureau for the county public health department and a medical toxicology consultant for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

In Casper: A Spirited Beginning (Fox Family Channel, Sunday at 8 p.m.), the friendly ghost is adopted by a trio of ghosts after he saves an old mansion from destruction and brings a boy close to his emotionally distant father. For ages 2 to 12. * The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the animated theatrical hit based on Victor Hugo's novel, premieres on "The Wonderful World of Disney" (ABC, Sunday at 7 p.m.).

Trends have a tendency to sear through our culture, then fade away as quickly as they came about. But one trend seems to be entrenched: teen-age drinking. Why the attraction? "When you're young, you're rebellious and want to try new things," said Troy senior Bob, who said he drinks casually every weekend. "I was just a punk eighth-grader who wanted to try everything and be different. My friends did it, but they didn't (say) 'Hey, do it.' They were just like, 'Do you want some?'

'Scream 4' MPAA rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes Playing: In general release

'American Reunion' MPAA rating: R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use and teen drinking Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes Playing: In general release

'Chronicle' MPAA rating: PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking. Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Playing: In general release

'The Art of Getting By' MPAA rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, including sexual content, language, teen drinking and partying Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Playing: In general release

'American Reunion' MPAA rating: R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use and teen drinking Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes Playing: In general release

'Chronicle' MPAA rating: PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking. Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Playing: In general release

Fewer teens drink and smoke cigarettes than in any time in the last 30 years, but the widespread availability of medical marijuana appears to be fueling a rise in pot use, health experts said Wednesday. One in four of the 47,000 teens surveyed for the 2011 Monitoring the Future report said they had used marijuana during the last year, up from 21.4% in 2007. The survey, which polled students nationwide in the eighth, 10th and 12th grades, also found that 1 in 15 of the oldest students used pot on a daily or near-daily basis - the highest rate since 1981.

'The Art of Getting By' MPAA rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, including sexual content, language, teen drinking and partying Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Playing: In general release

For those concerned about teens drinking too many sugary beverages, this may be good news: Water, milk and fruit juice are the drinks most likely to be consumed by high school students, not soda. Or so they say.  In a survey last year of high school students, 72% said they drink a glass of water each day, 42% drink at least one glass of milk, and 30% drink fruit juices daily. Only 24% said they drank regular soda (or pop), though when other sugary drinks such as sports drinks, sweetened coffee drinks (ah, yes, those sweetened coffee drinks)

'Scream 4' MPAA rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes Playing: In general release

They came early and they came prepared. For months, Andrew Landsiedel, Adam Redding-Kaufman and Macklin Thornton had been protesting a proposed city ordinance that would fine adults who knowingly provided minors with a place to drink. This week, the three Laguna Beach High School students took center stage in a packed City Council meeting to argue against the measure. Their opposition was formidable - school officials, a deputy district attorney, medical doctors, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the local PTA and even a tearful father whose only son was killed by a drunk driver.

Before the credits are over for the fast and funny "Can't Hardly Wait" the word ripples through the ranks of capped-and-gowned seniors of Huntington Hills High that the unthinkable has happened: The class of '98's top jock (Peter Facinelli) and its perennial prom queen (Jennifer Love Hewitt) have broken up. This is news of seismic implications--especially for nice-looking but timid Preston (Ethan Embry), who has had a crush on Hewitt's gorgeous Amanda since they were freshmen.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has accused the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum of multiple violations of its conditional alcohol license during the Electric Daisy Carnival rave last year, including allowing teenagers to consume alcohol. The Coliseum also is accused of allowing consumption and sales of alcohol outside its licensed area, such as the parking lot, during the June 25-26 event. Penalties for a violation of an alcohol license can range from a letter of warning or a fine to suspension or revocation of a license.

Four days have passed since Aydin Salek died. Tony Veiller, 17, a South Pasadena High School junior, tried to cope with his friend's loss by planning a vigil to honor Salek. Salek died early Sunday, a day before his 18th birthday, after he went to a party where teens were drinking alcohol. The cause of his death is under investigation. On Wednesday evening, hundreds of students, teachers and community members gathered outside the high school gym on Diamond Avenue. They held paper cups with tea lights and votive candles glowing in the night.