State Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) recently spoke about the dangers of underage drinking and benefits of the Indiana Lifeline Law during halftime of the Carmel High School men’s varsity soccer game.
The Sept. 5 game was promoted as “Pack the House Night” to honor former teammate Brett Finbloom, who died in 2012 of alcohol poisoning at a party where everyone in attendance was underage. Merritt said it is important that students learn from Brett’s tragedy, and know the steps they can take to save a friend’s life.
Other speakers included CHS student and soccer player, PJ Gibson, and Brett’s mother Dawn Finbloom. Dawn and her husband, Norm, are dedicated to informing the public about their story and preventing the loss of young Hoosier lives.
In 2012, Merritt authored Indiana’s Lifeline Law, which provides legal protections to minors under the influence of alcohol who call to report a medical emergency or a crime. When someone is facing an emergency, the fear of prosecution should not stop someone from calling for help and staying with the person in need of medical attention.
