ST. MARY'S TODAY Editorial Opinion
Cheap Beer and Beer Logos Set Tone for
Anniversary Party at La Plata VFD

From the advertising on the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department website, its hard to distinguish the planned anniversary party for the seventy-five year old fire department in Charles County from a summer bash held by a college fraternity. 

But it shouldn't be.

La Plata VFD spends much of its time answering calls for help where drunk driving was the principal cause of the wreck and in many cases the wrecks are fatal.
The fire department included two beer logos in their ad for their party and advertise that draft beer will only be $1.
Having cheap beer available invites more consumption and thus more intoxication which in turn creates more drivers who make bad choices in regards to their after drinking trip home.
The La Plata volunteers advertise that they will be carding for those who are 21 at the door but that they will allow those who are over 18 inside to "party".
With low lights and a loud band and those who are over 21 being able to buy beer, it is highly unlikely that those between the ages of 18 and 21 will fail to find beer if they want it.  Only a fool would think otherwise.
All volunteer fire departments face the challenge of attracting and retaining younger members but to return to the days of having beer in the soda machines in the firehouse, letting officers of the fire department drive apparatus while drunk, as has happened, or to turn an anniversary party into a beer bash worthy of a college fraternity is not only silly, it is dangerous.
A complete and total effort to make sure that not one person drives away drunk from the LaPlata VFD firehouse on the party night, or any night, must be made or the event makes a mockery of the achievement and sacrifice of the members for the past 75 years, who have established a track record of heroics and dedication to the community.