Social media is a strange and new mechanism of our culture. Often times people communicate recklessly through the anonymous veneer of the internet and do things that are, less than smart at best. Blatantly advertise illegal activity is an example of something like this, something a group of Canada kiddos learned the hard way.
The group of Canadian teenage college students used Facebook to announce to the world that they were having a “froth” party. After getting a little fanfare from their peers in the Lumsden area, the reckless teens got some surprise attention from some high-powered guests that made some reservations: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP in Saskatchewan made a friendly appeal to attend the party, and even offered favors.
The RCMP also explained to the party goers whatcould happen to them under the law if they decided to charge them for illicit activity. Here is a post from the RCMP where they offered their good graces:
Thanks for the invite to the underage frosh party in the #Lumsden area on Saturday night. Lumsden #RCMP will bring chips and salsa and a choice of possible charges for the party goers, including: • Open liquor – $250 • Underage drinking – $360 • Littering – $250 • Providing liquor to a minor – $1050 Or you can make the smart choice and avoid meeting our officers! Stay safe. ^mm (RCMP Saskatchewan Facebook page)
Not suprisingly, the RCMP actually DID show up to the froth party. And, true to their word, they did bring some chips and salsa. The teens later posted pictures of the cops generously contributing their grub.
“It was well received and they sort of all swarmed to us and we handed out the chips and salsa and they loved it”, said Sgt. John Armstrong of the Lumsden RMCP. “They couldn’t believe that we had came through on our promise.” The party ended up being chaperoned by adults who closely monitored the underage teens and that any students who were old enough to drink had designated drivers.
“They told us they wouldn’t give us any tickets or anything as long as we behaved,” said one teen at the party. “It was cool. Everybody enjoyed it.” The whole fiasco got a load of attention on Facebook. Most of the people who commented on the RMCP’s post lauded the officers for their crafty method of attempting to curb underage drinking.
