West Vancouver police say they hope to curb youth binge drinking and wild house parties this summer with the launch of their alcohol awareness campaign.

A partnership with the West Vancouver school district and Vancouver Coastal Health, the program kicked off today at the Oceanside liquor store on Taylor Way.

Police are asking parents and adults not to supply booze young people under 19.

"There's really no good that comes from alcohol being exposed to minors," said interim police chief Jim Almas. He said getting information out to patrons of local liquor stores would be a "big part of our success" in deterring youth drinking.

In a pamphlet titled "WVPD saving you $500," the police outline the minimum fine for supplying liquor to people under 19 years old.

In a report presented to West Van council this week, WVPD tallied 91 liquor related offences involving young people in the municipality last year.

Const. Lisa Wanless, who authored the police report presented to council, said although alcohol is "more socially accepted," parents should see it as a "gateway drug ... it leads to other events and behaviours."

Terry Bulych, team leader of the child and mental health and addictions unit at Vancouver Coastal Health, said the Lions Gate ER sees about 150 drug and alcohol-related admissions every year.

Wanless said WVPD notices younger and younger binge drinkers every year and also a trend where parents are letting kids drink in their homes in an effort to keep them out of trouble.

"It's still legal to provide alcohol to your own child in your own home at your discretion," she said. However she said parents who allow their kids to host parties could be liable for injuries that happen outside the house when young people drink. She said it's not legal to provide booze to other people's kids.

"Your home insurance could be void and you could face civil actions once kids leave (the premises)," she said.

She said West Vancouver sees a high number of underage drinking at house parties, partially due to geography and transportation in the municipality.

West Van superintendent of schools Geoff Jopson said the police will also speak to kids about drinking in schools come September, under the new schools liaison program that will see WVPD contacts reinstated in schools, announced earlier this week.

He said in safe youth initiatives, West Van schools have invested between $60,000 and $70,000 in contracts with Vancouver Coastal Health.

"I often say schools are asked to do a great deal in the community today," said Jopson. "We need some help with that."

West Van students Braeden Gilbert, 15, and Kevin Hunt, 14, said they don't drink, but they see other teens partying in Dundarave and at homes.

"People in my grade usually get it from the parents or an older person," said Gilbert.

Hunt said he sees West Van kids in Facebook photos "around the table with all the booze."

Derek Pink, manager at the Oceanside liquor store said liquor sales tend to spike by about 30 per cent in the summer season. He said in summertime more young people skulk outside liquor stores, asking adults to buy booze for them.

He said his store will remind patrons "of their civic duty not to supply minors with alcohol."

For more about the WVPD police report on youth and initiatives between police, West Van schools, and Vancouver Coastal Health, read the Outlook's coverage <here