31 Mar 2008

Prosecutors in American Samoa point to sharp increase in crime involving youth and alcohol

6:01 am on 31 March 2008

In American Samoa, government prosecutors say there has been a a sharp increase in crimes committed by young people who are under the influence of alcohol.

The Assistant Attorney General, Faamomoi Masaniai, says in the last year about 90% of crime involving minors was committed while they were drunk.

He says the law does not provide any punishment for people under 21 who drink alcohol, something he hopes lawmakers will address:

"There is not any form of punishment that a juvenille would receive if they were to possess or consume alcohol and unfortunately if there is no actual enforcement type affect that the government can take to prevent juvenilles from actually holding alcohol or consuming alcohol."