Pubdate: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 1999 The Province Contact: 200 Granville Street, Ste. #1, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N3 Canada Fax: (604) 605-2323 Website: http://www.vancouverprovince.com/ Section: Youth Views Author: Heather Hadley NO PLACE TO DRINK, NOWHERE FOR 100 KIDS TO HANG OUT Another call to the police from annoyed neighbours. As on the previous weekends, a large and rowdy group of teenagers has gathered in a near by park. The cops come, we scatter, and only an array of beer cans is left as a reminder that we were once there. Twenty minutes later, there's another call to the police. We have stationed ourselves in another nearby park. For at least another hour, we know we are safe from the cops and their fines. Our main fear is the steep fine for being drunk in a public place. Does this deter us from drinking? No. When the cops show up, do we go home and do our homework? No. We just go elsewhere. Maybe that's the problem. Kids from highly populated neighbourhoods generally all hang out together. Where do 100 kids go on a Saturday night? Even at house parties, it's just a matter of time before someone complains and we are forced to move. So, for the millionth time, we have to move somewhere else, more often then not outdoors. Why do we subject ourselves to freezing temperatures or amazingly overcrowded houses? Because there is nowhere else to go and, damn it, we aren't staying in on the weekend. That's the fact of the matter. We have no place to drink, nowhere to hang out and nothing to do. This is our community's responsibility -- to give us a place to go -- because apparently the "party patrol police" just aren't cutting it. We aren't afraid of their authority and don't abide by their rules. As far as safety is concerned, the community should supply some sort of area where drinking is permitted, where you can be as loud as you please and where there are volunteers who ensure that no one drives home drunk. They would also be able to monitor problems that may arise in the course of an evening. Although this seems unlikely, I'm sure if a place was supplied parents wouldn't have a problem volunteering for a few hours once in a while. We aren't going to stop going out on our weekends (and teenagers don't learn very easily). Although the majority of teens are intelligent about DDs (drunk driving), I can't account for everybody. You must keep in mind that it's not only teenagers who are out causing a ruckus, so cut us some slack. We could all save ourselves a little grief if you guys could just give a little leeway on the weekends. Let us enjoy our youth while we still have it. Heather Hadley is a Grade 12 student at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Surrey. She enjoys snowboarding and writing and wants to be an environmentalist. Calling all B.C. teachers: Are your students interested in writing a Youth View column running Mondays in The Province? If so, call the editorial pages at (604) 605-2619 or 605-2380. Columns should be 600 words maximum and accompanied by a photo and brief biography of the student writer. Material can be mailed to The Province, 200 Granville St., Suite 1, Vancouver V6C 3N3. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck