Underage Dunedin teens are using social media to source alcohol through sober driving pages, police say.
Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin has warned parents to be suspicious of teens sourcing rides through social media as police have uncovered children obtaining alcohol via Facebook sober driving pages.
Earlier this year, children aged in their mid-teens were found heavily intoxicated in the central city and admitted getting the booze from strangers off social media.
''The code is apparently `I'm driving tonight','' Sgt Paulin said.
''No questions asked they take them to a bottle store, flick them the cash and they will go in and buy it.
''I don't think the parents are aware this is going on.''
Anyone caught buying underage children booze could be fined $2000.
If a crime was to take place as a result of the children being intoxicated, the drivers would be liable for supplying the booze and showing no care, he said.
''They don't know where this alcohol is going with these young ones,'' Sgt Paulin said.
Worst-case scenario is you [become involved with] a homicide. And being at the back end of a homicide is not good.''
Children's bodies did not process alcohol like adults and if a teen was to pass out and die as a result of alcohol obtained through social media, the buyer would be liable.
Parents should be checking their children's social media use.
''Just be aware that this is a mechanism that they are using to get alcohol,'' he said.
''They are getting in the car [with strangers], that's a big risk - a huge risk.''
Parents also needed to make themselves available to transport their children if they were going to parties and be aware of their movements.
''If they need a ride home they don't get a Facebook sober driver, they get a ride from their parents,'' Sgt Paulin said.
''There should be that discussion `I know you are going out to a party, I'm available at any time to pick you up'.
''That's a discussion a responsible parent should have.''
