TULSA, OK – [March 15, 2017] – Local law enforcement agencies across Oklahoma will be working to keep St. Patrick’s Day holiday celebrations safe for all by cracking-down on violations of state alcohol laws. The Tulsa Health Department’s Regional Prevention Coordinator (RPC) program is partnering with the Tulsa Police Department to reduce alcohol offenses, including DUIs.
Strategies include sobriety checks, bar checks, alcohol risk assessments to determine if patrons’ identification is checked, if there is service to someone who is intoxicated, or if patrons are overserved, enforcing social host laws, in addition to other enforcement activities aimed at preventing needless death and injury associated with alcohol abuse.
These heightened enforcement activities will be in place throughout the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period.
“For many Americans, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day includes green alcohol, green clothing, parades, and local fares,” said Marianne Long, Tulsa Health Department’s RPC program manager. “It is also a time when we see increased negative consequences resulting from alcohol abuse along with a spike in underage drinking.”
According to the Office of Highway Safety (OHSO), there were 86 alcohol/drug related crashes which resulted in 32 injuries and 2 deaths across the state of Oklahoma in 2015 during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
“Underage drinking is not a harmless rite of passage; there are far-reaching consequences. In addition to alcohol related crashes, there are long-term consequences such as injuries to both the people who consume alcohol those who do not, property damage, arrests, risk to community safety and even death,” said Long. “These negative consequences are absolutely preventable, which is why we are working together as a community to ensure a safe holiday celebration for all.”
For more information regarding planned enforcement efforts and how you can be part of a community solution to prevent underage drinking, please contact Marianne Long at 918-595-4274.
Support and community resources are provided by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
Regional Prevention Coordinators
Regional Prevention Coordinators is a grant funded program established to reduce the rates for underage drinking, adult binge drinking, and the non-medical use of painkillers within Tulsa County. The work of RPC is concentrated on population-level change in Tulsa County by assisting communities in determining the substance abuse problems affecting their constituents and the most effective strategies to address these problems. RPC works with local coalitions and stakeholders to gather data, track trends, and provide training and technical assistance within the community. Additionally, RPC provides support for town hall meetings and assists with local alcohol compliance operations. For more information regarding the RPC program at the Tulsa Health Department, please visit www.tulsa-health.org.
