August 14, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (UF) INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO CURTAIL UNDERAGE AND BINGE DRINKING ON CAMPUS

The University of Florida (UF) is proposing a rewrite of its student conduct code to include a ban on drinking games and beer kegs for activities on campus and in university facilities. To read more about proposed UF policy changes, click here. To view existing student code, click here.

August 14, 2008

CENTRAL NEW YORK SUMMIT ON UNDERAGE DRINKING PLANNED FOR OCTOBER 2008

Prevention Network is collaborating with New York State OASAS (Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services) and the Syracuse/Onondaga Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission to sponsor the third annual Underage Drinking Summit. The one-day event, to be held in Syracuse in October, will include 12 workshop options, a youth leadership session, and featured national speakers—Toren and Chris Volkman, best-selling authors of Binge to Blackout. Prevention Network is a non-profit organization that provides education and prevention services for substance use, abuse, and addictions in the Central New York community.

August 07, 2008

CALIFORNIA WEBSITE FOCUSES ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING

According to a recent report of the Marin Institute, based in San Rafael (CA), alcohol problems cost California $38 billion a year in deaths, injury, health care expenditures, lost productivity in the workplace, crime, and pain and suffering.

In 2008, approximately 52 Town Hall Meetings were held across California to address the issue of underage alcohol consumption. A website http://safestate.org/index.cfm?navId=1314 has been developed by staff of the California Attorney General’s Office to assist communities in organizing comprehensive efforts to address underage drinking.

July 31, 2008

NEWS FROM PARTICIPATING STATES

Arkansas –Teresa Belew, Arkansas Executive Director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, presented a call to action at a town hall meeting convened by the Benton County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force. Click here for information about the underage drinking issue in Benton County (AR). This is one of thirty-nine town hall meetings organized by concerned citizens in Arkansas as part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention initiative.

Since 1995 when the first Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted in Arkansas, the percentage of 9-12th grade students who had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey dropped from 51.5 (1995) to 42.2 (2007)

Florida - On February 19, 2008 Lake County became the first county in -Florida to enact a Keg Registration Ordinance when the Lake County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass ordinance 2008-9. The passing of the Keg Registration ordinance is an important step in reducing underage drinking in Lake County, which ranked as the sixth highest county in Florida for underage drinking in 2004. The ordinance will require purchasers of kegs to provide identifying information including name, address, phone number, and address where keg will be used. Additionally, the purchaser must also swear to not allow any minors to use keg. The passing of the ordinance was spearheaded by the Safe Climate Coalition of Lake County and the Lake County Shared Services Network, with support from local law enforcement, community leaders, as well as state prevention organizations. For more information on the Lake County’s keg registration ordinance, click here.

Maine – On June 20, 2008, the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and the Higher Education Alcohol Prevention Program sponsored a Card ME Program training for Healthy Maine Partnership Coalitions. The Card ME Program is a voluntary responsible retailing program that takes an innovative approach to reducing retail access of alcohol to minors and visibly intoxicated persons. The program provides managers and store owners with free tools to help set norms and expectations around selling alcohol in their stores. The Program also provides: free information on responsible retailing best practices; tools to assess and address strengths and weaknesses in the current policy, including free materials; and suggestions for no-to-low costs changes that can help reduce the risk of violating state liquor laws.

Nebraska – On July 31, 2008, the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission will conduct a hearing on the classification of alcopops (what the alcohol industry calls “flavored malt beverages”) as distilled spirits. Project Extra Mile, a network of community coalitions aimed at reducing underage drinking, has taken a leadership role in bringing public attention to the availability of alcopops to youth. To read a commentary on the issue of alcopops in Nebraska, click here.

Rhode Island – Prompted by the firing of three Mackerel Cove lifeguards accused of drinking while on duty, a coalition to combat underage drinking has been formed and will host its first meeting on July 30. For more information on the task force, click here.

Since 1997 when the first Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted in Rhode Island, the percentage of 9-12th grade students who had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey dropped from 52.2 (1997) to 42.9 (2007).

South Carolina (SC) - At the 2008 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Enforcement Recognition ceremony in Columbia (SC), law officers were recognized for enforcing DUI (Driving Under the Influence) laws. For more information on this event, click here.

Since 1991 when the first Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted in South Carolina, the percentage of 9-12th grade students who had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey dropped from 46.9 (1991) to 36.8 (2007).

During March-May, 2008, SC citizens organized seventeen town hall meetings in concert with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention initiative.

West Virginia – The Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership is working with other community partners to kick off a campaign to address underage drinking. A series of compliance checks during August and September will be among the first activities implemented. For more on the county-wide prevention campaign, click here.

July 31, 2008

VERMONT RESIDENTS ATTEMPTING TO LOWER THE RATE OF UNDERAGE DRINKING THROUGH COMMUNITY COORDINATION

Since 1993 when the first Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted in Vermont, the percentage of 9-12th grade students who had at least one drink of alcohol on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey dropped from 52.6 (1993) to 42.6 (2007). In an effort to move that percentage even lower, Vermont residents organized sixteen town hall meetings during March-May, 2008, in concert with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention initiative.

The town hall meeting, organized by the Franklin/Grand Isle Underage Drinking Task Force, engaged over 700 parents, students, community members, and service providers. For more information on the follow-up activity of the Grand Isle Town Hall Meeting, click here.

July 24, 2008

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCREASING EFFORTS TO CURB UNDERAGE AND HIGH RISK DRINKING

University of Virginia - An Associated Press article, dated July 21, 2008, described the University of Virginia’s efforts to increase alcohol education for incoming and current students. To read the article, click here.

Auburn University - A new alcohol policy at Auburn University will take effect August 18, 2008. The new policy enables University administrators to notify the parents of any student under 21 caught drinking alcohol or driving under the influence. To read more on the new alcohol policy, click here.

Tarleton State University (TX) - First year freshmen will receive an education program designed to change students’ attitudes and behaviors toward alcohol use and abuse. Funds from a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws grant will make this program available for 2008-2009 academic year. To read more about the program, click here.