Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 1:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good article, Julie

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 1:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go Julie! It is about time someone told it LIKE IT IS in this town.
I know that drinking is an issue in every town, but in Natchez, it is some sort of rite of passage that the parents allow.
I know FIRST HAND that alot of parents know about their kids underage drinking, and I know that most of the time the parents provide it. The Pagent Balls and the Mardi Gras Balls all have open bars and everyone gets served.
I also know that slumber parties after footbal games have lots of alcohol with parental approval. Again, the parents around here that I dealt with acted like it was normal and I was the strange parent that did not fit in because I would not allow it.
I was even lied to by parents... I would ask the parents before I would let my child go to their homes if they were going to let them drink, the parents would say no. I would POP UP, and guess what? They were alloing alcohol.
I would snatch my child up and leave, only to be the topic the next day about how unreasonable I was.
Anyway, I am so glad you wrote this...and I hope some parens will think about it.
In my experience, the parents wont, but I am still happy to see this being addressed. GREAT JOB JULIE!

Posted by Hobo (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Miss Lou area doesnt just have an under aged drinking problem, it has an all around one. From cops who let idiots get behind the wheel and drive home after leaving Doc's and Dimples at night, to the bars themselves not supporting and encouraging people having a designated driver. Its sad really.

If Mullins wanted more money to pay his officers so they wouldnt leave for ACSO then maybe he should put a few cops down on Franklin to catch the DUI/DWIs driving home on thursday/friday/saturday nights

Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 4:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

how in the world is putting cops on main st. gonna give the cops more money? most of the fine money goes to the court. there probably would be more cops downtown if they weren't out dealing with thuggish kids that parents can't (or wont or just don't give a crap about) do anything with.

Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go Julie! You don't even have to go to a bar.. just drive thru order your drinks in a cup and a straw and take off. This does seem to be a big problem in Natchez ,Vidalia and Ferriday ..esp. with drugs. You read about older ppl. being arrested for drugs. These are parents that should be role models for their kids not using with their kids. Controled substances are common with kids today. Where in the heck are they getting them from?

Posted by jch (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great Article!! I too am a parent that checks to see which adults will be chaperoning dances and etc. because I know that some of them will allow drinking and the likes. I do not think you should drink in front of your child or say well if they drink at home at least I know where they are at. No, that only says that you condone it and in the future when they leave home and go to college you think they are going to say, well I am not at home with my parents so I cannot drink. No, they will only do it more and also no telling what else because the parent is saying it is ok to drink. Please parents take control of your kids and do not let them take control of YOU!!

Posted by Username (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Alcohol- the legal drug!
The drug with the huge tax revenue. The drug that brings you pro sporting events, nascar and DEATH!!!
The alcohol industry is the top sponsor for 'A Partnership for a Drug Free America' go figure.

Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Alcohol. The self-medication for the Natchez Blues. Parents who numbed themselves with it didn't care to notice they weren't curing their problems; only infecting their kids with it. And so, it gets passed on down the line until someone realizes it hurts more than it helps.

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Years ago we were reading about Jeanna Bush being arrested and charged with DUI, and then last week, we read she married and would be a teacher in Maryland. Many years prior to that her daddy, our president, was a heavy drinker, and I'm sure he still offers alcohol at his social functions, and even at Jeanna's wedding, alcohol was more than likely served. The problem of alcohol isn't just here in Natchez, it is a much larger problem affecting the whole United States. The only president in our time who didn't allow alcohol at his White House functions was Jimmy Carter, and he was criticized a great deal for that instead of being praised for taking a stand for his beliefs. Alcohol and drugs have been a problem in Natchez as far back as I can remember...it's not new to this area or to the US. Perhaps a little kudzu added to our salads?

We have so many problems of our own that we need to solve here in this country that it makes very little sense for us to be over in other countries attempting to straighten out theirs. Our vision has become so full of boards that we can no longer see what is right in front of us. Until we find the corrective lens to straighten out our own sight, we should stop searching for splinters in other lands. Our children are suffering as a result of our blindness.

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hold on a second. In Europe parents routinely give their minor children a small cup of wine with a meal. That takes away the mystery and novelty of "drinking". Alcoholism and abuse are far lower in Europe.

Growing up we had neighbors who were from Italy. Thier children nightly had a small amount of wine with dinner. As adults today none of them are drunks or abusive drinkers. Education all along the way will teach children the proper way to hand booze.

Hiding it and banning it only tempts them more. If you tell a child they cannot have something, they only want it more--candy, a toy, a TV show--the same holds true for liquor. Educate YOUR children and there will be far fewer problems when they are an adult.

When there is no "mystery" there is no appeal.

Posted by humorme (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

natchezsouthside it is nice to read something factually intelligent instead of soapbox stupid. Thank you.

Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

After reading this article, I am reminded of a true story that was passed on to me by my mom. She gave me a copy on paper so I can always have it. I can't remember it clearly, so I will try my best to sum it up.

It was about this teenage girl who wanted to go to party with her boyfriend. Her parents didn't approve of this guy, and they told her that she couldn't go. She got angry and upset. The night of the party arrived, and the girl went to her parents to ask if she could stay the night with her best girlfriend (since she couldn't go to the party). Well, of course she didn't go to her friend's house, she used her as an alibi, because she was actually with her boyfriend. They went to the party, and they got drunk. After the party, he was driving to take her to her friend's house, and they got into a heated argument. Well, he was concentrating more on the argument than driving (that's what I heard alcohol can do). To make a long story short, their car struck another car head on. The accident only had one survivor, the teenage girl, but she was unconscious. When she came to at the hospital, she asked where her boyfriend was, and the doctor told her he was dead. He also told her that the couple in the other vehicle had died also. She was upset then, but the doctor wasn't finished telling her the whole story. He also had to tell her that the people in the other car was her own parents. (Her parents decided to take ride, since their daughter wasn't at home, and they wanted to get out of the house for a little while.) So, she lost her parents and her boyfriend at the same time, because she didn't listen.

I agree with what Julie is saying in her article, and I enjoyed reading it. It is true, but all parents whose children drink don't drink. I have a son, and I tell him from right to wrong. I can only hope that he listen. I try my best to do things in front of him that I know is for his good, because I know that he is watching me. He will be 10 this year, and I hope and pray that he listens to everything that I have taught him. He is very influential, and he acts like whoever he is around. So I have to be careful of who I let him be friends with. I having a time now with him wanting to wear earrings. I don't believe in that. I don't know what to look forward to when he becomes a teenager. I grew up in the 80's and 90's, and children aren't anything like we were. I know that this is a little off the subject, but that fell on my heart when I read this article. I have a softness for children.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If underage drinking was a real concern in miss-lou why do they have a drive thru store where you can buy mixed drinks. The lines are always long there. How many time has there been a cop there to stop and id any of these kids???

Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It starts from the top - I no longer live in Natchez but let me tell you of an incident that happened a few years back- my spouse and a few of his friends went to some type of ball - I think it was the sheriff's ball - well they had been drinking and they went up to the sheriff (not the current sheriff) and asked if he was providing rides - his response was if they got stopped just tell the officer they had been at the ball and they would be OK - HELLO!!!!!!!!!! The "leaders" in Natchez and "high society" need to WAKE UP - they have all of these "balls" and serve alcohol to teenagers and NEVER ask for IDs but because of who they are it is OK - I KNOW because I HAVE BEEN THERE AND SEEN IT!!!!! It is a BIG problem in Natchez and I am glad I am not a part of it any more!

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah because no one breaks the law or drinks and drives in Tennessee.

Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We have often joked that parents must put Jack Daniels in baby's bottles here, so great is the love for drinking.

I just find it boring to be around too many people after too many drinks. They repeat what they just said because you are ignoring it because it was drunk talk.

I read a long while back that people who were metered and sane in their intoxication, and modeled that to their children while they were instilling productive values -- that these folks had lower incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse in their families than either prohibitionists or outright drunks.

Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I never said no one breaks the law or drinks in TN - it happens everywhere - I just said I am glad I am not in the middle of it in Natchez anymore - don't be so shallow.

Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good article Finley. BUTT--and that's a big butt--kids have been imbibing for centuries and will continue to do so whether parents do or not. Kids do other things that parents don't approve of like the infamous preacher's daughters. Bless their hearts and thank you girls.
Politicians are preaching abstinence. Post pubescent hormones are demanding the opposite. Butt still...good article Finley. I added the extra t in but because I'm a nasty boy like that. ROR

Posted by daddysgirl (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This has been a problem in Natchez since the first boat docked Under the Hill. I'm not saying it's right-it's just been a way of life for YEARS. My parents drank in front of me when I was growing up and I'm not an alcoholic. My parents didn't condone underage drinking. I had a few friends who's parents let us drink at their house. If we needed a ride, we could call any of our parents to come and pick us up and they would. This problem stems from so many things and it's hard to blame 'parents' for it. Maybe if our young people had something to do to entertain themselves, then drinking wouldn't be such an issue. The Confederate Pageant has ALWAYS been an 'open bar' for underage drinkers-THAT is going to be an act of CONGRESS to stop that, but as for finding a way to keep our kids from drinking...it's going to have to start with the leaders of this city. If you can get money for asphalt, you can get money for other things. The roads in this town piss me off too, but instead of focusing on things like that, why not focus on a NEW, CLEAN movie theatre-a book store where you can hang out-there are LOTS of ideas. Just ask.

Parents are respsonsible for their children, bottom line. But if we as a community want to HELP, we have to find an alternative.

Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great article Julie. I was a high school football practice at one of our private schools several years back. At the end of the Friday afternoon practice, the head coach told the kids to be careful that weekend. He said that he knew they were going to drink but just don't drink and drive. I think that is a horrible message to pass on. We should never give children the idea that it is okay to drink. It just goes to show you why we have the problem we have.

Posted by froggie (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great article, Julie. Good for you for saying what many of us are thinking!

Posted by froggie (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We do need to set better examples for our children. There's a time and a place for everything, but I don't think it is right to drink in front of your kids. If you want to do that, get a babysitter or let them go to a grandparent's house for the night. My parents drank in front of me and I rarely ever drink, but I do believe that doing this in front of them will do more harm than good. In this town, though (and many others) people might just want to bite your head off for saying such things. We do tend to breed generations of drinkers here. Maybe this will change?

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo, Julie! You said what many of us have recognized for years.

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

there is a difference between having a cocktail, and getting rip roaring drunk! give me a break!

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Julie is correct, alcoholism in Natchez is a disease. It just isn't limited to alcohol; it's more like, substance abuse is a disease affecting many in MissLou. But, it is not a new disease.

40 years ago, I remember wading in waist high flood water to get to a camp where young people were gathered, some were of age, and some like me, were not. We were supplied with as much booze as we wanted, and no one was asking for IDs. That's just an example of one weekend. Almost every weekend, and most of the time, it was on Sunday, word would get around where to go for the parties; lake houses, camps, personal homes, or fields. Sometimes on Friday, or Saturday night, we would meet up on the levees, or in fields, and have bon-fires. There was always an abundant supply of booze and drugs. I don't know who supplied it, but my choice of drink, or drugs, was always free. When you began to turn it down, that's when you became a social outcast.

Also, we could get into every bar that was open, back in those days, and the owners knew we were underage.

You can close all the drive thrus...but someone will come up with the booze, the drugs, and a place to go. I hear that barns out in the country are popular these days.

Kudzu has been shown to curb the desire for alcohol, and last time I looked around, Natchez was abundant with Kudzu. Forget about the creek project and study the kudzu.

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't remember his name, but I remember that he drove a small mg, and had just come back from Vietnam. He used to hang out with us, but one weekend after a party on the lake, he flipped his car into the water and drowned. I remember his funeral, and I can almost remember his face.

Posted by dynagirl (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The root cause of binge drinking is limited access to alcohol. People who feel they might not get to have a drink tomorrow will have two tonight. Prohibition didn't work and restricting access to those over 21 doesn't work. People should be educated about nutrition and culture from birth--why do we teach our children to eat properly but not to drink properly? Our "puritan" heritage? I'm not puritan and I was taught to drink in moderation by my parents. My non-drinking mother didn't teach my brother and he wound up with DUI's. I will teach my son to respect and enjoy alcohol, even if it is "against" the law. I won't host teenage parties for him--those aren't my children to educate.

I agree that we should look to the community, but not to restrict or prohibit drinking--or will consuming similiarly harmful substances like french fries be limited to adults soon?

Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't blame the alcohol. Next thing you know, you all will be wanting prohibition again.

People just have to grow up and be responsible for their own actions. Parents need to start holding their children accountable at a young age and then, by the time they are adults, hopefully, they will make the right choices. Dynagirl has the right idea.

And don't forget that this is not a Natchez problem. It is the same everywhere, but you all know that it is a lot different than when I grew up in the 60s and 70s. Back then, it was every southerner's God given right to drive drunk. If you got a DUI, you could get it fixed. Not any more. Things have changed. MADD checks court dockets and makes sure that angry mothers are sitting there for every DUI/DWI offense.

Some of you act like our local law enforcement doesn't do anything to stop drunk drivers. That is simply not true. NPD is very proactive, and they are quite successful at picking them out and pulling them over. The only way they could improve, would be to sit outside bars and pull over everyone that leaves and breath test them.

Posted by amr161 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very good article Julie!!!

Posted by Modiemas (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great read Julie............

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/meetings/...

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Med...

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

30 comments? 3o Comments is all this story gets? Some kid jumps in the river and we had tons of comments.
This story is something that desperately needs to be addressed and only 30 people care enough to want to try and figure out out what to do something about this.
SAD .

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ntzmom what do you suggest? We are listening...

Posted by NoWireHangers (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I work in the addictions field in an outpatient clinic. I assure you alcohol and drug abuse is everywhere...I see it every day. I travel Highway 61 and the interstate alot and I am extremely cautious with my driving. I can't tell you how many of my clients have been driving not only drunk but high. There is a huge surge in prescription drug abuse and over the counter drug abuse, not to mention those who drive when they are sleepy. Many clients have been driving after being awake for days after using powder cocaine, crack, amphetamines, Adderall, and other speed. I won't even go into the Oxycontin, Lortab, Xanax and Klonopin abuse. And I won't go into compulsive gamblers driving home after a long stretch gambling and drinking on the boat. I would be willing to bet that if you did blood toxicology tests or even urine drug screens on 10 random people driving on the road, at least 4-5 would test postive for some reflex altering or mind altering chemical.
If only the public knew.

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well fire, I don't know, but I would think that collectively we could come up with some ideas.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would hope ntzmom...My first thought would be ID.... I have saw so many kids coming from hammers it is unreal..they must not id or it's alot of fake ones i dont know...Then again look at dimples...alot of underage kids there....

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree, the bars now let 18 year olds in, and in doc bigloves several kids have been arrested arrested.

But the majority , in my experience, get the booze from their parents.

wHY DO SO MANY PARENTS THINK ITS OKAY TO ALLOW DRINKING AT THEIR HOMES?

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I haven't a clue ntzmom...Sounds like maybe they think it is ok...Who knows though....

Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we really care. Prosecute every adult that supports or encourages under age drinking including parents and coaches. Report, prosecute and publicize names of adults who give our kids alcohol, buys or sells it to teenagers. Blow the whistle on teen drinking parties. Provide special classes and deterents for teen violaters. Support your local PD when they stop your child for underage drinking. Shut down all the drive through alcohol sales. Take cold beer out of every convenience store. For some, you may think I am trying to take the fun out of life. I just want to see our kids live long enough to enjoy they life they have. So, what will we do? Speak up, or continue to look the other way? Kids do what their parents do, and they do what their friends do. Help educate both as to the destruction alcohol can cause and how to avoid it. We still have the problem because our society still condones it and we have not implemented a strong enough deterent to the crime. Somebody needs to write a new book to cover it all, "Drinking and Driving for Dummies". Thanks Julie

Posted by Serenyd (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Adults (not just parents) need to model responsible behavior. It's okay to drink but it is not ok to get drunk and get behind the wheel of a car. Do not drink and drive. Just don't, it's not worth killing yourself or somebody else. But some people will keep doing it no matter what because they think they can handle it, and stupid people will keep letting them get away with it until somebody dies and then it is too bad. Parents need to take a stand against underage drinking. It is messed up when you are looked down on by your neighbors because you don't let your kids get drunk. But some parents think because they did it as kids it is ok. Four-wheelers are dangerous too, but parents around here still let their kids ride them. There is a lot of peer pressure for parents to let their kids do things which are "fun" but not necessarily safe. There are enough bad things that can happen to your kids even when you are careful, why would you want to invite disaster by letting your kids do things you KNOW aren't safe?

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

Keep going Julie, maybe someone will listen before their child is killed.

Posted by sweetsukijanec (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 12:27 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just can't leave it at that. For all intrested parties, search for: yearly death due to alcohol, click on AMA Facts about youth and Wellsouce: Health risk at the same site. It's well worth viewing.....Or try, leading causes of death in the U.S.

Posted by natsanus (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not much about race in these comments. I wonder why?

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

natsanus why would it be?

Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's get a dose of reality here. I agree that parents are responsible for teaching their children right from wrong and what is dangerous. I agree that underage drinking is bad and should be sanctioned both by society and by parents. I agree that what has happened with these young folks in the recent tragedies are just that tragic.

But, and here is the big BUT...this has been happening for generations...we (and I mean all parents everywhere, not just Natchez) have had tragedies like this before usually around homecoming or graduation...people are going to be people, kids are going to be kids, there will be some who heed the advice of their good parents, there will be those who disregard it or don't have good parents to give that advice. Additionally, these kids aren't really kids anymore...if you want them to be responsible adults teach them well as children and then trust them to behave as adults...the ones who don't respond well...unfortunately, it's a Darwinian outcome and they should be made aware of that!

I agreed with Preacher until he started talking about removing alcohol from convenience stores, what's that all about? We have laws that, if enforced, accomplish all he asked for before that, but he wants to go even further.

The point here is that Preacher's plea for going back to Prohibition and temperance style hatchet crackdowns is a knee jerk reaction coming from a man who is prejudiced against drinking in any form, probably, even during Eucharist...his determination of what is good, bad, right, wrong, safe or dangerous is just that...his...not necessarily someone else's.

You can't save these kids by over-protecting them, in fact, you harm them like the kids who are socially atrophied due to home schooling, just an example...we, well most of us who survived, learned from experience and like all who came before them or us...they will have to learn by experience...after all, experience is the sum total of all the mistakes we've made or seen made and learned from...take it from me, I've got lot's of experience and so far my kids have profited from it.

Just so you know, I've got a daughter graduating tomorrow night...if you think I don't worry you'd be wrong...if you think I haven't tried my best to teach her, you'd be wrong...if you think I, or anyone else can stop her from making a mistake, you'd be wrong...and I pray she won't.

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think any of this talk will do any good. Every year we have a Christmas parade that is full of drunk drivers. Guess who is leading them through town. The two top law officials, the sheriff and chief of police, and sometimes the mayor. Go figure.

Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

NatchezEnema...all you can do is all you can do...people are going to be stupid...even me and you, LOL...it's the bane of mankind...that's the point I was trying to make.