Houston Community News Article
This article was published in the Houston Community Newspaper, The Rancher edition in June 2012.
Alcohol Awareness Class offered
By LINDSEY VACULIN June 14, 2012 7:00 am
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 43,973 minors were arrested in Texas for alcohol related violations in 2009.
These offenses include minor in possession, minor in consumption, driving under the influence and public intoxication (MIP, MIC, DUI, PI). As part of their punishment, young alcohol offenders are mandated to complete a state approved alcohol awareness program.
Alcohol Awareness Associates provides these state approved Alcohol Awareness Classes for young people. The West Houston/Katy class will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. each day at Comfort Suites located at 11440 Clay Road.
“Sometimes people can’t find a course to take in Katy, so I am hoping to let people know that we are here,” Shanna Stauffacher, the course instructor, said.
Stauffacher also offers classes monthly in Kingwood, The Woodlands and League City.
Stauffacher said the program is designed to implement Texas legislation, which mandates the courts to require young alcohol offenders to complete a state approved alcohol awareness program. This course is also available to any young person who has not received a citation, but who would like to learn more about the dangers of alcohol.
The six-hour program is held on two consecutive days. It is required that participants attend both sessions in order to receive their certificate of completion.
Stauffacher, a certified elementary educator, said the curriculum contains information about social values related to consuming alcohol by minors and the influence that alcohol advertising has; the physical and psychological effects on the body; and the effects of vehicle use while intoxicated.
“We talk a lot about the law specific to young people,” she said. “Decision making is a big topic, too. Ultimately they have to be the ones to make more sound decisions in the future.”
Stauffacher said they class is only open to 25 students. She typically sees students between the ages of 16 and 20, but has had students as young as 11.
“I am also starting to get more adults that have received a citation for public intoxication or open container,” she said. “The court requires those individuals to take an alcohol awareness class also, but there aren’t a lot offered.”
“Kids don’t often look forward to taking the class,” Stauffacher said. “They think it is going to be someone lecturing them about what they shouldn’t be doing. But, I have had kids tell me after it is over that it wasn’t that bad and they learned a lot.”
Stauffacher has been teaching the class for 12 year and said she hopes the class helps educate her students about alcohol abuse and it keeps them from moving on to bigger offenses.
“Ultimately it is an education class about making better decisions,” she said.
According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) minors who purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages, as well as minors who are intoxicated in public or misrepresent their age to obtain alcoholic beverages, face a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by: a fine up to $500; alcohol awareness class; eight to 40 hours community service; and 30 to 180 days loss or denial of driver's license.
For additional information or to register for a class, participants may visit the course provider’s website at: www.AlcoholAwarenessAssociates.com or contact Shanna Stauffacher at 281-359-6126.
