Why Prevent Underage Drinking

Addressing Common Myths

MYTH | Drinking doesn’t hurt youth that bad. We did it and it was fine.

REALITY | The bodies of minors are still developing. Alcohol stunts brain development and hurts their physical health. Not to mention, the bodies of adolescents are in a much more addictive state making it easier to get hooked on alcohol.

Actually, youth who start drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol abuse problems later in life than those who begin drinking at age 21 years old.

Since 1988, alcohol has been listed by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 Carcinogen and is identified as either the 2nd (Goodaerz, 2005) or 3rd (Parkin, 2011) leading preventable cause of cancer.

Taking any positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption into account, researchers are
now recommending zero alcohol consumption as the safest level for cancer prevention (Latino-­‐Martel, 2011).

MYTH | Kids are going to drink anyway. It is better if I let them drink at home under my supervision.

REALITY | Only about 35-­‐40% of underage drinking related deaths involve a car. The other 60% are other causes (falls, alcohol poisoning, etc.).

MYTH | I like to have my alcohol cold when I serve it. It is just so convenient to leave it in the fridge.

REALITY | Alcohol is usually cool enough to be served within 15 or so minutes of refrigeration. Should you desire to always keep alcohol chilled, purchase a mini refrigerator that can be locked and is separate from the household refrigerator.

MYTH | I know that my kids aren’t drinking. They would never use the alcohol I bring home.

REALITY | The truth is that research shows that the home is a common place that youth access alcohol even without parents knowing. 2/3 of youth who access alcohol get it from a residential home.

Liquors can be watered down so that changes in volume aren’t detected and parents often lose count of beers in the fridge. Youth who want to access alcohol are counting on these tricks to have their drinking go unnoticed.

MYTH | All youth will try drinking as minors and it doesn’t make much of an impact.

REALITY | In 2011, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Showed that a majority of youth have not used alcohol in the last 30 days. Yet, the impact of underage drinking in North Carolina is $1.5 billion (UDETC 2010).

MYTH | I can’t stop the problem of underage drinking.

REALITY | As an adult, you have the critical role in shaping the habits of the children in your care. Research states that talking to youth about underage drinking, disapproving of the behavior, and taking action to prevent it is the biggest factor in whether or not your child will use alcohol before 21 years of age. One home at a time, we can reduce youth access to alcohol and improve their future by securing and monitoring alcohol in the home.

Consequences of Underage Alcohol Use

Immediate Consequences

  • Impaired Judgment
  • Slowed Reaction Times
  • Poor Coordination
  • Accidents and Injury
  • Overdose and Death

Impaired Adolescent Brain Development

  • Memory Problems
  • Depression & Anxiety
  • Reduced Impulse Control
  • Reduced Cognitive Function
  • Negative Impacts on Relationships

Long Term Consequences

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Increased Risk of Stroke
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Weaken Immune System
  • Liver Disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Stomach Ulcers
  • Cancer Risk of Major Organs including Breast, Stomach, Bladder, Kidney, Pancreatic, Colon, and Rectum

Prevent Underage Access to Alcohol

NC Laws on Underage Drinking

  • A person under the age of 21 caught purchasing, attempting to purchase or possessing alcohol will be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. Sentencing is left to the judge’s discretion. The Division of Motor Vehicles revokes that person’s driver’s license.
  • A 19 or 20-­‐year-­‐old caught possessing beer or wine can be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor and if found guilty could be fined up to $200 and lose his or her driver’s license.
  • For the first offense, a person convicted of selling or providing alcohol to someone under the age of 21 must pay a $250 fine plus $100 in court costs and do 25 hours of community service.
  • For the second offense, a person convicted of selling or providing alcohol to a minor must pay a $500 fine plus courts costs, and do 25 hours of community service work.
  • In addition to fines and court costs, those convicted of breaking the state alcohol laws may have to pay attorney’s fees and an increased insurance premium of 400% or more.
  • It is illegal for anyone to loan his or her ID to someone else to obtain alcohol. Upon conviction, DMV will revoke the loaner’s driver’s license for a year. Reference: NC Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Based on NC GS 18Ba 302, 18Ba 302.1