Summit to Look at Underage Drinking Issues

Local officials and advocates will once again tackle the issue of underage drinking this week — this time from the perspective of law enforcement.

The topic has been one that local officials have long addressed but the issue took on a greater sense of urgency after recent high-profile underage drinking incidents, including some on Super Bowl weekend that resulted in some arrests and hospitalizations.

On Thursday the summit on Strategies to Reduce Underage Drinking will be presented by the Community of Concern, local law enforcement and the McCall Foundation.

Police chief Christopher Arciero, who will be one of the panelists, said there will be a panel presentation but also question and answer period where parents can comment, offer ideas and ask about specific issues and concerns.  

“It’s an opportunity to be part of the conversation,” he said.

The panel will also include:

• Judge Michael Sheldon
• Attorney, A. Thomas Waterfall (criminal defense attorney)
• Andrea Erikson, juvenile probation officer
• Ruth Small, juvenile review board member

The group will discuss approaches to effectively address the issue. A question and answer session will follow.

The discussion will be moderated by Maria Coutant-Skinner of the McCall Foundation and sponsored by the Canton Community of Concern.

It will take place April 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Canton High School Auditorium.