Wisconsin Can Reduce Underage Drinking

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Wisconsin Can Reduce Underage Drinking
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Wisconsins children drink alcohol too young, too
much and too often with tragic short and powerful
long-term consequences.
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In 2007, Wisconsin high school students reported
the highest rate of current alcohol use and the
3rd highest binge drinking rate in the nation.
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Nationally, less than 25 of students surveyed
during the 2005 YRBS reported consuming 5 or more
drinks in a row within the preceding 30 days.
In Wisconsin, 31 of the students surveyed
reported consuming 5 or more drinks in a row in
the previous month. 2005 Youth Risk Behavior
Survey, Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction.
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Underage drinking is taking our childrens
future, their lives and 1.6 billion annually.
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• Underage drinking costs
• Wisconsin approximately
• 1.6 billion each
• year including
• Youth Traffic Crashes 
• 302.2 million
• Youth Property Crime
• 41.7 million
• Youth Alcohol Related Injury
• 59.7 million
• Youth Violence 
• 570.8 million
• (Underage Drinking in Wisconsin, prepared by the
  Pacific
• Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE)
  10/2006

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• Drinking alcohol can lower estrogen levels in
  adolescent girls.
• Drinking alcohol can lower luteinzing hormones
  and testosterone levels in adolescent boys.
• In both sexes, acute intoxication reduces
  levels of growth hormone.
• The Effects of Alcohol on Physiological Processes
  and Biological Development.
  NIAAA, National Institute of Health

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• By late-adolescence, those with extensive
  drinking histories compared to controls showed
• 10 - 35 ? hippocampus volume
• (brain structure which converts information to
  memory)
• brain activity during memory tasks
  (damage to pre-frontal cortex)
• ? brain activation when shown alcohol images
  (trigger for relapse)
• source Brown et al. (2000), Tapert (2006)

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When youth in long-term treatment were tested
after detoxification they showed a 10 deficit in
the ability to recall both verbal and nonverbal
information. Brown, Sandra A., Tapert, Susan
F. Health Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol
Involvement. Background Paper, Reducing
Underage Drinking A Collective Responsibility,
National Research Council Institute of Medicine.
P. 383-391
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About half of the youth surveyed during the 2007
Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported
consuming alcohol before age 14. Nearly one
quarter, (23.6) of youth surveyed reported
taking their first drink before they were
teenagers, between 8 and 12 years of age.
2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction.
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Youth who begin drinking before age 14 have a 41
chance of becoming alcohol dependent at some
point during their lifetime, compared to the 10
risk attached to someone who abstains from
alcohol until age 21. Brown, Sandra A., Tapert,
Susan F. Health Consequences of Adolescent
Alcohol Involvement. Background Paper, Reducing
Underage Drinking A Collective Responsibility,
National Research Council Institute of Medicine.
P. 383-391
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• Estimates indicate 94,465 youth in Wisconsin
  have a serious alcohol problem and only 15
  receive treatment.
• (The Alcohol Cost Calculator for Kids,
  Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, the
  George Washington University Medical Center,
  accessed May 2008.)

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Available Affordable Acceptable Attractive

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We can make alcohol less available to youth

• Alliance for Wisconsin Youth
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, CESA
  1-12
• Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources

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Our Plan

• Remind adults it is illegal to pour,
  purchase or provide alcohol to underage youth.
• Cooperate with law enforcement to punish adults
  who provide alcohol to youth.
• Support community alcohol age compliance
  checks.

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Alcohol hurts developing bodies and the finances
of adults who provide it.
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Adult Hosted Underage Drinking is Dangerous
Illegal

• Encourages binge drinking.
• Ignores dangers of alcohol poisoning.
• Unintentional injuries like falls or drowning
  are often alcohol-related and preventable.

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Adults who purchase, pour or provide alcohol for
underage drinkers can be held liable for the
resulting damages that youth incurs under state
law. Liability for illegal activity is not
generally covered by homeowners insurance.
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• Parents, older siblings and other adults
  should not purchase pour or provide alcohol for
  youth.
• No one has the right to endanger another
  persons child. Report underage drinking parties
  to the police.

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• Make it family policy to report underage
  drinking to the police. It teaches youth to
  respect the law and keeps everyones children
  healthy safe.

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Comprehensive Alcohol Risk ReDuction CARD
Program Wisconsins alcohol age compliance
check program
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• Alcohol age compliance checks identify
  retailers who sell alcohol to underage youth and
  encourages compliance with existing law.
• These are not stings. Retail outlets are
  notified in advance about upcoming compliance
  checks.

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• Help us prevent and reduce underage drinking.
  
• Keep prom, graduation and summer fun alcohol
  free and safe for our youth.

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• Help our effort with
• reminder window clings on retail refrigerator
  cases.
• informational flyers in customer bags or
  mailings.
• Parents Who Host Lose the Most sign in front of
  your home or business.

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• Our Coalition includes members from the following
  groups
• Bowler High School National Honor Society
• Gresham High School National Honor Society
• Bonduel High School SADD chapter (students
  against drunk driving)
• Shawano High School SADD chapter
• Shawano Community Coordinated Response Team
• Tigerton High School SADD chapter
• Wittenberg-Birnamwood SADD chapter
• The Shawano County Tavern League
• Cellcom of Wisconsin
• Shawano Sports Park, Commercial Horizons
• The Shawano County Sheriffs Department
• The City of Shawano Police Department
• The Stockbridge Munsee Police Department

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Evaluation Outcomes

• Miami University, Dr. Robert Seufert
• Conducted annually in June July since 2001
• Parent surveyed first, then teen with permission

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Comparison Data from 2001-2006

• Child attending party where alcohol was served
  decreased from 39 to 25 (14 decline)
• Teens know of parents who host parties where
  alcohol is available to them decreased from 50
  to 29
• If parents knew this info., it would keep them
  from hosting parties where alcohol is available
  increased from 49 to 65 of parents
• The info led to a discussion about the dangers of
  going to parties where alcohol is served
  increased from 44 to 58 of teens