- Underage drinking law sends strong message
- State cracks down on underage drinkers
- Curbing Binge Drinking Takes Group Effort
- You can't ignore the harm that is done by underage drinking
- Anti-drinking effort honored
- Lowering drinking age won't lessen the problem
In the United States, alcohol is the primary substance of abuse among young people. It is a major contributor to the three leading causes of death among this population — unintentional injuries; homicide; and suicide.
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STOP Act »
Youth in Action Teams
YIA Team Strategy
Youth In Action partners young people with adults to work toward prevention strategies through an
"environmental approach" that focuses on the big picture — or the environment — that accepts
underage drinking as a "rite of passage."
The community environment in which Youth In Action focuses includes:
- Alcohol advertising - Marketing alcohol as appealing to youth
- Parental attitudes - Allowing teens to drink under an adult's supervision
- Efforts of law enforcement - Not enforcing the Zero Tolerance and Under 21 Drinking Laws
- Retail outlets - Not checking for proper ID
- Local and state policies - Which prevent youth from drinking
Youth In Action works to change this environment.
Youth In Action embraces a "no use" message across the board from peers, parents, school
administrators, faith community leaders and the media. MADD believes if young people are given all the
facts about alcohol and underage drinking, the decision not to drink before the age of 21 will be easier
for them to make.