Underage Drinking Prevention
Take-Home Alco-Screen Tests
NOW AVAILABLE!
 Underage drinking is a serious problem for many communities, but it doesn’t have to be one for Derby, Kansas. In its ongoing mission to curb underage drinking, the Derby Police Department now offers parents yet another tool for addressing underage drinking issues in the home. Alco-Screens, take-home blood-alcohol screening tests, are now available at the Derby Police Department for parents and caregivers concerned with underage drinking issues in their households.
These single-use tests screen for the presence of alcohol using a sample of saliva. They are a simple, one-step test that takes only two minutes to achieve results. According to the manufacturer, the relationship between the amount of saliva alcohol and blood alcohol is 1:1 while with breath it is 000048:1, making saliva a more sensitive testing medium than breath.
Tests are available at the Derby Police Department for a nominal charge of $2 each. This helps defray the cost of the test kits and allows us to continue providing these locally at your convenience. The Derby Police Department is located at 229 N. Baltimore.
Does Derby have a problem with underage drinking?
Any time an underage person consumes alcohol, the Derby community considers that to be “a problem.” Even one - person or drink - is unacceptable. A significant number of arrests for underage drinking in Spring 2007 has raised community awareness about underage drinking and started the community conversation about prevention. Derby is a community that cares deeply about its youth and to whatever extent the community, City leaders, and law enforcement can empower healthy choices, we will.
The Law on Underage Drinking
The legal age of consumption in the State of Kansas is 21. Individuals under 21 may not consume alcohol. It is illegal to provide individuals under 21 with alcohol. The Derby Police Department enforces a zero tolerance policy on underage drinking.
The Legal Consequences of Underage Drinking
If you’re underage...
Consuming alcohol underage is punishable by a fine of $200 to $500 and suspension of your driver’s license. The municipal judge may also order you to serve up to 40 hours of community service and complete an educational prevention program.
If you’re thinking about providing alcohol to any underage person....
Here’s some information you should know:
- Furnishing alcohol to a minor is subject to a $200 fine.
- Hosting a party where underage individuals consume alcohol is punishable by a fine up to $1000 and up to 6 months in jail.
Be a part of creating a culture of intolerance in Derby for underage drinking. Do not enable underage drinking - either actively or passively. Get involved, stay involved in prevention.
The Legal Consequences for Businesses
Unlawful sale to a minor by a business is subject to a fine up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, and a civil fine up to $1000. In addition, the business’s state and municipal licenses and permits can be denied, suspended, or revoked.
Court Jurisdiction
Derby Municipal Court adjudicates violators from the age of 18-20. Juvenile offenders (under 18) are not adjudicated through municipal court; they are adjudicated through the district court system, which operates without involvement from municipal courts. For juvenile violators with no history of involvement with illicit activities, the district attorney may send first-time violators through the Teen Intervention Program (TIP), a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with minor misdemeanors such as shoplifting and underage consumption.
REPORT IT!
To anonymously report underage drinking or the sale of alcohol to a minor, call:
- Derby Police Department at (316) 788-8888; OR
- 1-866-MUST-B-21; OR
- 911.
The Kansas Department of Transportation offers the 1-866-MUST-B-21 hotline to help curb underage drinking. The toll-free tip line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available for citizens to anonymously report parties involving underage drinking, plans to purchase alcohol for underage persons, and retailers who sell alcohol to underage persons.
For more information, contact the Derby Police Department at (316) 788-1557. All media inquiries should be directed to Kristy Bansemer, Public Information Officer, at (316) 788-1519 or via email.
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