HOW YOU CAN HELP STOP TEEN DRINKING!

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK!!

Check Out Our New Website!

KNOW Drinking Under 21

We have recently revamped our website to include a "teen-friendlier" version, but it's not just for teens. It can also give parents quick and easy access to important information about underage drinking. The new site is user-friendly and has a number of attractive visuals to help break down the truth about the dangers of underage drinking. Check it out: knowunder21.com.

SUBSCRIBE TO SMS AND RECEIVE UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON UNDERAGE DRINKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE!

---------------------------------------------

ALCOHOL - POTENT DANGER FOR YOUTH

Alcohol is illegal for young people for a good reason:

Alcohol causes even more damage to teens' health than to adults' health
Young people continue to grow into their 20s. Alcohol can slow the growth you see, like bone growth.
Alcohol can also get in the way of the growth you can't see -- the brain, reproductive system, and the liver. These organs muture throughout the teen years.
Alcohol contributes to bad choices, such as, violence, school attendance, and more.

Take steps at home:

Keep track of the alcohol in your home. Make sure teens can't access it without your knowledge.
Let your teen know that the minimum legal drinking age is 21, and that drinking can cause serious health and safety consequences to teens and legal consequences for a person who provides the alcohol.
Talk to your kids about how to say no to a drink. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests these responses:
- No thanks.
- I don't feel like it. Do you have any soda?
- Alcohol's not my thing.
- Are you talking to me? Forget it.
- You're pressuring me. I said no.
- Back off.

Take steps in your community:

REPORT UNDERAGE DRINKING:

CALCASIEU PARISH HOTLINE:

491-3618 (anonymous)

Stand up, and spread the word that you don't want other people serving alcohol to your teen or condoning teen drinking. Silence can be misinterpreted. Let your friends, neighbors, and family members know that the minimum drinking age is a policy that protects teens, and that you do not want your teen to drink.

Talk to the parents of your teen's friends. Let them know that teen drinking poses unacceptable risks and that you do not want - or expect - anyone to allow your teen to drink alcohol.
Talk to adults who host teen parties. Let them know that 86 percent of parents support the legal drinking age and a whopping 96 percent of adults agree that it is not okay to serve alcohol to someone else's teen - and not okay to turn a blind eye to teens' alcohol consumption.
Talk to your school board, school principals, teachers, and coaches. Let them know that it is unsafe, illegal, and irresponsible to condone teen drinking. Ask them to discourage this activity.
Talk to management at restaurants, town halls, and other venues where teen parties are held. Let them know that parents in your community do not want teens to have access to alcohol.
Let local law enforcement know that you don't oppose active policing of noisy teen parties. A noisy party may signal alcohol use; you will ask them to check it out.
Tell local alcohol retailers that you don't mind waiting while they check ID before selling alcohol. Limiting alcohol sales to legal purchasers is an important goal and worth the time it takes.

Check out what individuals and organizations can do for other ways to reduce teen alcohol access.

Don't serve alcohol to teens.

UNHEALTHY - IRRESPONSIBLE - ILLEGAL!!