Few things in this life are as tragic as the death of a child. When someone younger than elderly dies, it strikes a chord of sadness. But nothing is as sad as a child’s death. Yet, hundreds of children die every year in North Carolina to a problem not everyone readily recognizes.
Last year North Carolina’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission launched a statewide campaign targeting underage drinking. The occurrence of youth under the age of 21 drinking alcohol became such a problem that it was reported one child was lost per week to underage and drinking related accidents.
Fake IDs and Underage Drinking in North Carolina
Did you know anyone under the age of 21 can go online and get a false North Carolina driver’s license? The license they receive is almost impossible to distinguish from the real deal. And the consequences of having and using a fake ID are not dissuading underage drinkers from getting and using them.
While we often associate fake IDs and underage drinking with 16, 17, and 18-year-olds, a 2009 study on Drug Use and Health paints a much different picture. According to the study, nearly 40 percent of eighth graders and over 70 percent of 12th graders have tried alcohol at least once.
In North Carolina, alcohol is a 5 billion dollar business. The state receives some 500 million dollars in taxes and other revenues from the sale of alcohol.
But the most staggering statistic attached to the alcohol business in our state is that we lose one child per week to underage drinking-related accidents—that’s 52 children per year.
Using Media to Address Underage Drinking
The campaign undertaken last year by the ABC Commission was funded by 1.5 million dollars. The goal was to invest in proven methods of raising awareness among underage drinkers and parents.
Much like the tobacco programs that successfully raised awareness and reduced the number of smokers in North Carolina, the ABC Commission’s underage drinking campaign has geared up to achieve the same results. According to Talk it Out, the second phase of the anti-underage drinking campaign launched just this fall.
The campaign is encouraging parents to take the time to talk their tweens and teens about underage drinking as they head back to school. Through a series of television and radio advertisements, the campaign is working to convince parents that this conversation cannot be put off.
Addressing Underage Drinking with Your Tween or Teen
Talking about underage drinking is not comfortable. It’s not easy, either. But avoiding the subject can do far more harm than undertaking an awkward conversation.
In the coming weeks, we’re going to dig deep into this campaign. We will discuss how parents and youth can find ways to talk about underage drinking. We’ll help you feel informed and educated so you can enter this conversation with a sense of qualification.
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