In San Diego County the problem is exacerbated by the lure to Tijuana bars where the legal drinking age is 18 and enforcement is minimal. Last year the San Diego Union- Tribune reported that a swarm of 9,000 New Year’s Eve revelers returning to the US from Tijuana (many bandaged, bleeding and passed out) gave the appearance of "a war zone."

"As part of Operation Safe Crossing, a federal, state and local law enforcement initiative to stop underage teens from going to Tijuana bars, this New Year’s Eve, we intend to reduce alcohol related problems at the border by turning back anyone under 18 years old and checking for legally drunk drivers returning from Mexico," said San Diego Police Southern Division Lieutenant Vince Villalvazo

"Drinking alcohol is not a rite of passage. It’s dangerous business. As parents we’re here today urging other parents not to make light of it with their children," said Rosemary Peyron, a Committee to Reclaim Our Neighborhoods volunteer. "Parents need to wake-up to what our teens are doing in Tijuana bars. Girls drinking free and boys drinking all night for $5.00-is a recipe for a lewd, bloody and violent scene," she added. "We applaud the up-coming police effort, Operation Safe Crossing, to stop underage teens from going to Tijuana bars on New Year’s Eve."

In 1996 San Diego County had 92 alcohol related fatal collisions killing 105 people. Another 2,997 people were injured, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A 16 year old is more likely to die from an alcohol-related incident than from any other cause. Nearly one in 12 instances of drinking and driving involved a driver under age 21— too young to drink legally in any state. "These incidents were not accidents, but were preventable. Tragically, alcohol related crashes kill more people between ages 16 and 24 than any other single cause," said Cooper, San Diego County Emergency Medical Services Director, said Cooper.

The border is a funnel to catch all those teens whose main reason for going south is to get drunk. Protecting our youth from the devastating consequences of teen drinking on either side of the border is of paramount importance," said United States Attorney Alan Bersin. "We thank the community for their support of Operation Safe Crossing. It combines public health and safety approaches to the problem of binge and teen drinking that may be a model to address substance in general."

"San Diego County taxpayers spent over $2.5 million in alcohol-related fatalities, motor vehicle crashes and criminal justice costs in 1995," said County Supervisor Greg Cox.. "In addition to alcohol-related car crashes, teen drinking-regardless of where it happens-can lead to many public health problems such as violence, date rapes, unwanted pregnancy and transmission of HIIV and other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)."

Over 10,000 young people cross back into the U.S. from Mexico on any given weekend night between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to federal officials. More than 50% are under 21 and legally drunk according to a recent study conducted by the Institute of Health Advocacy (IHA). "Equally alarming, is that nearly 50% of the pedestrians entering the U.S. during those hours-regardless of their age- are legally drunk and most say they will drive their car home from a parking area near the border, according to the study," said James Baker, IHA Director. "The study also shows that these legally drunk drivers will endanger the roads as they try to make it home to all corners of San Diego County, like Oceanside, Escondido, Mission Valley, National City and Chula Vista-some even as far as Los Angeles and Orange County," he added.

"County-wide strategies to prevent binge and underage drinking include supporting full enforcement of existing alcohol laws, responsible beverage service practices and educating parents and teens about the dangers of alcohol," said Supervisor Cox.

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