NEARLY HALF MONROE HIGH STUDENTS ADMIT DRINKING.

Byline: David R. Baker Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly half of Monroe High School students quizzed in a recent Stanford University survey admitted drinking during the past month, most of them at parties or the homes of friends.

Students claimed easy access to booze, according to the survey, which will be presented today to the San Fernando Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition.

As alarming as the results may seem, they compare favorably to recent national studies suggesting that between 64 percent and 75 percent of all high school students drink. Still, Monroe Assistant Principal Thane Opfell said his school would search the survey results for tips on steering more kids away from alcohol.

``Any amount of teen drinking is unacceptably high,'' he said. ``That figure is something we need to bring down.''

Barbara Bloomberg, co-chairwoman of the alcohol policy coalition, said she hopes the results will persuade schools to set up more weekend recreational programs, giving kids alternatives to drinking parties. But she acknowledged that stopping all underage drinking is probably impossible.

``It's automatic for them,'' said Bloomberg, with the coalition, which pushes for public policies that combat drinking problems.

``It's part of their culture, part of our culture.''

The survey's researchers could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The survey of 200 Monroe students, conducted in March 1998, found that 47 percent reported having at least one drink in the previous 30 days. And 36 percent reported getting sick or passing out after drinking sometime in the past six months.

Most obtained the alcohol through friends or family members, although many also used strangers to buy it for them.

Previous state and national studies of high school drinking have suggested a far more widespread problem.

A recent survey of California students found that 67 percent of freshmen reported having at least one drink in the past six months, compared to 75 percent of juniors, according to the state's department of alcohol and drug programs. Nationwide, 65 percent of 10th-graders reported drinking in the past half-year, as did 75 percent of high school seniors.

When asked about the survey, many Monroe students said Wednesday that its estimate of the percentage of kids drinking was far too low. Students drink at parties, at friends' houses or just hanging out after school, they said.

``A lot of them just bring it to school in their backpacks,'' said Michael Erazo, 15.

None of the students interviewed Wednesday would admit to drinking themselves. Some said they hate beer's bitter taste, some worried about the long-term health effects, while others said their parents would punish them if they were caught with booze.

Opfell said he wasn't sure why the survey was conducted at his school, although he noted that Stanford has done other student surveys at the North Hills campus.

``We're a large school, we're a wonderfully diverse school, so you get a good cross section of responses from here,'' he said.