Community Action For Tobacco Free Living Coalition addresses other substances as well.  These include alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

Specifically, regarding alcohol, the focus is on underage drinking and binge drinking.

Especially at this time of year, with graduation parties and summer outings, it is important to remind everyone that it is illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.

Additionally, for those over the age of 21, binge drinking is a huge problem in the State of Wisconsin.  Binge drinking is described as consuming more than 4 (for females) or 5 (for males) drinks within a two hour time frame.  

The coalition is addressing this problem in several ways, first by prevention in the school setting, but more importantly in the community setting.

Parents Who Host is a new initiative in our area that reminds parents and other adults that it is illegal to serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.

  

 

  

Underage drinking is widespread in Wisconsin. Approximately 295,000 underage youth in

Wisconsin drink each year. In 2005, WI students in grades 9-12:

• 24% had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.

• 49% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days.

• 31% had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row (i.e. binge drinking) in the past 30 days.

• 4% had at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.

What Can Parents Do about this problem?

 

• A recent survey commissioned by The Century Council, a national non-profit dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, revealed that 65 percent of underage youth say they get alcohol from family and friends, meaning they get it from their parents, their friends' parents, older siblings or friends, with or without their permission.
• Between graduation parties, end-of-school celebrations and the free-time and fun of the summer season, some parents can be tempted to host parties for their minor-aged kids and their friends – sometimes with alcohol – with the mistaken belief that it is a safer option for their kids to drink at home than to drink somewhere else.
• Other parents may regard high school graduation – or going off to college – as special occasions where it is fine for alcohol to be served.
• Others think back to their teens when the legal drinking age in many states was 18 and consider alcohol use just a normal part of growing up. But the legal drinking age in America is now 21. Underage drinking is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• If your underage teen drinks and drives, you may be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by your child. This is especially true if you provided the alcohol. Adult-supervised parties in which alcohol is served to minors are neither legal nor responsible.
• The consumption or possession of alcohol by your kids and their friends that is provided by you is all the evidence needed for you to be criminally prosecuted or civilly sued.
• Specific laws vary state by state, but parents who break these laws could be forced to pay all medical bills and property damages in the case of a crash, and could also be sued for emotional pain and suffering when there is severe injury or death.
• In some states, the parents can even subject themselves to criminal prosecution. In one case in Pennsylvania, a parent was sentenced to 1-4 year prison term for involuntary manslaughter after three teens died in a drunk-driving crash following a party the parent hosted. In that case, the parent did not buy the alcohol consumed at the party, but knowingly permitted the teens to drink the alcohol that was brought in by others.
• You may also want to think about the added risks of leaving your teens home alone if you go away for a weekend or on vacation. Parents may be held responsible even if they are not home when underage drinking occurs on their property.

 

Don't Be a Party to Teenage Drinking

 

• Help plan with your teen any party to be held in your home. Help make the guest list and limit the number to be invited. Send personal invitations to avoid the dangers of "open parties."
• Put your phone number on the invitation and encourage calls from other parents to check on the event. Think about inviting some of the other parents to help during the party and to help you supervise to ensure no alcohol or drugs are present, and to help invite uninvited guests to leave. 
• At the party, limit access to a specified area of your property. Make sure there is plenty of food and soft drinks available. Make regular, unannounced visits to the party area throughout the evening. 
• If your teen is attending a party at someone else's home, call the parent to verify the details and to ensure there will be adult supervision and no alcohol served. 
• Know how your teen is getting to and from the party. And be aware when your teen arrives home. Seeing and kissing your child good night is one way to detect if alcohol or drugs were used. 
• If you are going away for the weekend or on vacation and plan on leaving your teen home alone, be direct and set clear expectations, ground rules and consequences if you think your teen might be tempted to host a party. Notify your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye out – and leave the phone numbers that should be called in the event of a problem or an emergency.
• As responsible parents, don't be a party to teenage drinking.  Talk to your kids and make sure they know you are concerned for their safety.
• Always remember that you or any adult who serves alcohol to underage youth, or who is aware of it being served to underage youth on their property, may be legally responsible and liable for any damages that result.