N.B. may ban outside beverages at school events
Municipal Alliance Committees concerned about alcohol on school property
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK — Members of the township Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) are calling for a complete ban of outside beverages at school events in an attempt to combat underage drinking.

Danielle Garback, the student representative for the MAC, spoke at a Board of Education meeting last month, saying she is "saddened by the death" of a 15-year-old from Old Bridge and an 18-year-old from South Brunswick who have died recently from alcohol-related incidents. She said she is seeking the help of the school board to "prevent senseless deaths" by voting to ban spectators from bringing their own beverage containers to school events because students sometimes bring in alcohol with them.

"If we can put in the time and effort to fight this battle, a student's life could be saved," she said.

Garback, who is the captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, told the board members that she has seen for herself alcoholic beverages being passed around the stadium bleachers in water bottles, and has seen students falling down those same bleachers. She called it dangerous and "embarrassing."

Cathy Nicola, the North Brunswick Township Council president and township liaison to the MAC, said that the committee receives a Middlesex County block grant to fund anti-substance abuse programs such as Project Graduation, character-building workshops and various anti-drinking campaigns.

She said, "It is imperative that we stand together … to keep this problem at bay," and noted how the township implemented a house party ordinance last year to prohibit the use of alcohol by minors on private property.

"This is one step further to keeping our children safe," she said.

Jim Brittain, who is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and a member of the MAC, said, "There's nothing good that can be said about students drinking at school events." He said that outside of family events, minors tend to binge drink, and that binge drinking is the No. 1 cause of alcohol problems.

He also stated that if the snack shack at the high school were to offer a variety of beverages at a reasonable cost, then there should be limited objection to proposing a ban.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski said that he will speak to the board members and see if a decision can be made at a future meeting.

"You have my commitment to bring this fast-forward," he said.