Police Beat: Warning to parents in Coromandel

As people prepare to welcome in the summer with barbecues, parties and social gatherings, police in the Coromandel want parents and caregivers to think twice before supplying teenagers with alcohol least they get more than they bargained for.

Sergeant Vince Ranger, of the Whangamata Police, said alcohol and young people was a volatile mix and though most parents acted responsibly, a small minority were not.

"Over the year, we have had several incidents arise where groups of 15 and 16-year-old students have been going to parties in the area with liquor supplied by parents or friend's parents. Other youths have been dropped off at parties with parents believing their teenager is not consuming alcohol and then been unpleasantly surprised with youngsters drinking to excess, vomiting and in some case placing themselves in extremely vulnerable positions."

Mr Ranger said in one of the more extreme cases, police dealt with a complaint of sexual assault of a 17-year-old woman resulting from an unsupervised party in Whangamata in July.

"Then last month, a 16-year-old girl was the victim of a sexual assault as a result of a supposedly supervised 16th birthday party in which alcohol was supplied. A 16-year-old boy was charged with this assault and appeared in the Thames District Court.

Mr Ranger said police would also be enforcinge zero tolerance to alcohol in public places which applies to everyone regardless of age or place of residence.

"We ask people to drink responsibly and take care of one another."