A new campaign to educate adults about the dangers of furnishing alcohol to minors is underway, thanks to a combined effort by Oregon Partnership and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
New products, materials and posters are being rolled out at various liquor stores around the state, in hopes that parents get the message loud and clear: That most teens who obtain hard liquor, get it from home.
Among the items are bottle hangers featuring peal-off stickers that parents can put on their home alcohol supply that say, "At your age, drinking is dangerous. So are really angry parents."
"Preventing alcohol sales to minors is a top priority for the commission," says Rudy Williams, OLCC Deputy Director. "Being a partner in this campaign strengthens our mission to promote the responsible sales and service of alcohol."
The National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the anti-furnishing campaign.
Posters are also being displayed, supporting the campaign theme, "Home Furnishing Takes on a Whole New Meaning." Other campaign posters featuring several messages are being developed, including alcohol's impact on the adolescent brain.
Refrigerator magnets will also be distributed to local prevention and coalition coordinators around the state. Among the magnet messages:
"Parental disapproval is the #1 reason kids don't drink"
"Set clear rules against underage drinking"
"Know where your kids are and what they're doing"
"Kids get alcohol from home. Lock your liquor cabinet"
"It's a startling new trend that our kids now prefer hard liquor over beer as their drink of choice," says Pam Erickson of Oregon Partnership. "Often, kids get their alcohol from home. Parents should tell their children that underage drinking is not permitted in their home or elsewhere."
Public Service Announcements aired on radio stations in July and August boosted awareness of the campaign. The ten and thirty-second PSA's are expected to air again during November and December.
According to Erickson, parents need to maintain control of alcohol in their home and talk to their children about "house rules" against underage drinking.
According to researchers, those who start drinking under the age of 15 have four times the chance of having problems with alcohol when they reach adulthood.
The most recent Oregon Healthy Teens Survey shows that about a third of 8th graders in the state have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days and about half of 11th graders. The Survey also shows that 31 percent of 8th grade drinkers and 37 percent of 11th grade drinkers prefer liquor.
"Face it, Parents" is an Oregon Department of Human Services prevention campaign managed by Oregon Partnership and designed to reduce underage drinking by targeting parents.
For more about "Face It, Parents," visit www.faceitparents.com
To learn more about keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors, visit http://oregon.gov/OLCC/alcohol_and_minors.shtml
I was surprised to find out that you could serve your own child alcohol if in your home! I've read about teens dying in crashes because a parent has supplied a keg to teens for graduation or some party, and never a word about the adults being charged for serving alcohol to minors even if it is their own child! We need to get serious with these adults who are giving our kids alcohol and giving them more than a slap on the wrist!!! Yes, they lose their child, and I know how it feels to lose a child, but if I could wrap my hands around the neck of the person responsible for serving a minor a drink that killed my daughter, I would gladly do it. No charges were filed against this person, and I didn't have any say so what so ever to anything. But, I'm angry about how everyone goes on and on about how to stop teens from drinking, yet they don't punish the suppliers! GET THE ADULTS WHO SUPPLY THE ALCOHOL !! Not a small fine, make it large plus a day or two in jail on their !st offense and put it in the paper for all to see!!!! This should be for the whole State, Douglas County also, they are really slack on charging parents around here.