-- High Youth Binge Drinking Levels Reported in Western States
-- Sell Alcohol to Minors in Florida and Loose Your License
-- Targeting Parents Who Allow Underage Drinking
-- Promoting Alcohol and Marijuana to Youth
Dear Amy,
Football season is well under way. When you play football you have to
be prepared, smart and strong to win the game, but the bottom line is
whoever has the most points wins. You can win on going support for your
Insight groups by remembering to do a few things.
Be prepared. Follow the planning ahead overview information in
the Insight facilitator guidebook before you start your groups.
Be smart. Follow the lesson plan of the Insight Class
curricula. Be strong. Keep accurate records of the number of students and
the percentages of the outcomes of your groups. Do your post tests, follow
up questionnaires and surveys. Keep detailed records of your groups. That
way when your administration, supervisor, grant coordinator or parent
wants proof that Insight works, you will be prepared, like a
winner!
-Amy DeNoyer and the Community Intervention
Staff
High
Youth Binge Drinking Levels Reported in Western States
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The New York
Times recently reported that North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana have binge drinking levels higher than the national average and
boredom is a top contributor to it. In two south central Wyoming counties,
30% of residents age 12 and older are binge drinkers. What are the reasons
for the binge drinking by youth? One recent Wyoming high school grad
thinks is because the state feels desolate, barren and boring to some
people, especially during the winter. An addiction counselor in Montana
gave the macho youth culture of the west as one reason. Another reason
given was lax laws. In Wyoming, youths caught underage drinking do not
have to worry about having their drivers' license suspended or revoked.
Wyoming also does not have a law that prohibits passengers in a car from
drinking.
Recently the Montana addiction counselor asked his group when they
started drinking. The earliest age was 5 and the latest 15. Young girls
who don't like the taste of beer according to one high school sophomore,
start out with "alcopops" and drink things like Mike's Hard Lemonade. The
article also stated that alcohol was easy to access and found that many
parents had a relaxed attitude about youth drinking. (New York Times,
September 6, 2006)
Sell
Alcohol to Minors in Florida and Loose Your License
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Oct 1st,
2006 a new Florida law will go into effect that will suspend or revoke the
drivers license of those caught supplying alcohol to minors for a minimum
of three months and up to a year for subsequent offenses. (Associated
Press June 13, 2006)
Targeting Parents Who Allow Underage Drinking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More
communities are passing laws targeting parents who allow underage drinking
in their homes. Supporters of the laws are aware that the it will be
difficult to enforce and hope that publicizing the penalties will be a
deterrent. Ventura County California passed a civil host liability law
that fines parents up to $1,000.00 for knowingly hosting youth drinking
parties. (JTO News August 29, 2006)
Promoting Alcohol and Marijuana to Youth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alcohol
Industry Still Promoting Ads to Youth
The alcohol industry has
failed to live up to it's promise not to advertise to youth according to a
recent report done by the Centers for Control and Prevention. (CDC)
According to the report, out of 67,404 alcohol ads that ran in 104
markets promoting 25 different alcohol brands ran during youth-oriented
radio programs. The alcohol industry claims the ads were made before the
pledge was made not to advertise to youth. The report showed that Bud
Light ads were aired on youth programs during study times. The cities
where most of the alcohol ads aired on youth- oriented programs were
Dallas, Seattle, Detroit and Washington, D.C. (Associated Press August 31,
2006)
Alcohol and Tobacco Messages Still Appear During
Sports Advertisers have found a way to promote their alcohol and
tobacco product logos during televised sports despite the ban on tobacco
advertising on TV. Boxing rings, ice rinks, next to ski jumps, and car
hoods are some examples found by a study done by the students at the
University of Texas at Arlington while watching 83 hours of televised
sports. According to their professor, the advertising doesn't leap out at
you but it is still there and it still is advertising. (Fort Worth
Star-Telegram August 14, 2006)
TV Series Promotes "The
Munchies" The popular Showtime Series "Weeds" about a mom who
supports her family by selling marijuana is receiving criticism for its
"munchie mobile" that has been touring the U.S. promoting the show and
handing out brownies, t-shirts and DVDs. An ad promoting the series that
was scented to smell like marijuana also appeared in a recent issue of
Rolling Stone magazine. The U.S. Office on National Drug Control
Policy did not find this advertising funny at all, citing that more teens
are entering treatment for marijuana and alcohol dependence. A
spokesperson for the show stated it was a way of letting people appreciate
what the show was all about. (JTO News August 15, 2006)
