Alcohol has been, and continues to be, the most widely used drug of choice for adolescents. It's easily accessible and often viewed as something that every kid tries. Alcohol use is consistently implicated in car crashes and weapon incidents; it also plays a key role in adolescent suicide and teen pregnancy.

Recent studies also indicate alcohol use can have negative long-term effects on the maturing adolescent brain.

In spite of these risks, and the fact that it is illegal, some adults are provide alcohol for their kids and their kids' friends. Their rationale is that kids are going to drink, so they may as well provide a safe environment. Although this seems well intentioned, allowing youth to drink sends the wrong and/or confusing message (see facts). It's also illegal (see laws around parties).

Reasons why young people should not drink alcohol

1. Bottom line: it's illegal. It also interferes with adolescent growth and development

As a parent or concerned adult, there are things you can do that will reduce the risk to youth.
Set clear rules, expectations, and regulations involving alcohol.
Keep your message simple and don't waiver: underage alcohol use is not allowed.

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Facts Parents Should Know

• Children rarely try cocaine, heroin, or any of the "hard drugs" without first using alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana
  
• The drug teens are most likely to use and abuse is alcohol
• Ninety percent of those in grades 9-12 and approximately 80 percent of those in grades 6 - 8 who use drugs, use them mostly on Friday and Saturdays
• Most kids get their alcohol from adults. Be aware of what liquor you have in the house and keep it locked up
• 5% of 6th graders and 47% of 12th graders have tried alcohol (beer, wine, wine coolers, liquor) in the last 30 days.

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Alcohol and the Brain

A recent study has shown that brains of young, heavy drinkers are significantly affected by alcohol. Through MRI brain scans, it was revealed that teen-agers who drink heavily over a long period of time decrease their own brain development. The hippocampus, responsible for memory and learning, was found to be smaller by 10% than those teens that did not drink.

Through the teenage years, the brain is still going through strong stages of development, which is impaired by alcohol. If abuse is stopped however, negative affects are thought to be reversible.

For more information on alcohol and how it affects adolescent brain development, go to: www

Source: http://cep.jmu.edu/

Laws around parties

CIVIL - Cause of Action - ZAP Bill
Expands civil liability to include cases of adult provision of alcohol to youth. Allows injured parties the right to sue the adult provider to recover damages. "A spouse, child, parent, guardian, employer or other person injured in person, property or means of support by an intoxicated person under 21...has for all damages sustained a right of action...against a person who is 21 years or older who:
1. Had control over the premises and...knowingly or recklessly permitted consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 that caused intoxication.
2. Sold, bartered, furnished or gave to, or purchased for a person under 21 alcoholic beverages that caused intoxication."

CRIMINAL - Kevin's Law - Brockway Bill
Increases criminal penalties on adult providers from a gross misdemeanor to a felony in certain cases. It is a felony, punishable by fines and/or jail time: "For a person other than a licensed retailer of alcoholic beverages...to sell, barter, furnish, or give alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age if that person becomes intoxicated and causes or suffers death or great bodily harm."

NEW KEG REGISTRATION LAW (effective 8/1/2002)
Governor Ventura signed a law to get tough on adults who provide keg beer to underage drinkers. This new "keg registration" law requires alcohol retailers to label and record all beer keg sales made in Minnesota.

Compliance standards

• requires retailers to affix an identification label to all kegs they sell
• standards for acceptable label materials and methods for affixing it to the keg are outlined in the law
• requires the label to contain the name, address, and phone number of the retailer selling the keg, a unique assigned ID number, as well as a warning that removal of the label is a crime
• requires the retailer to remove the label upon return of the keg
• retailers are required to record the following information on all purchases:
       ID # information on purchaser
       Date and time of sale
       Keg ID number
       Purchaser's signature
  
• requires retailers to keep and make these records available to law enforcement for 90 days

Misdemeanor Violations

• for a person required to record this information to knowingly make a false entry
• for an unauthorized person to remove, intentionally deface or damage the keg label

What can you do?

• Be a role model
• Talk with your kids about alcohol, reasons not to drink;stay informed about alcohol issues.
• Make it a habit to greet your child when they arrive home at night. If they are aware that you're waiting for them when they get home, they can more easily refuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Discuss with your children ways to avoid drinking in difficult situations. Set a good example with your own alcohol use and response to underage drinking.
• Parents can support each other by not providing alcohol to minors and encouraging others to do
  the same.
• Know your child's friends' parents; discuss common expectations, and help each other maintain them.
• Encourage youth participation in safe, chemically free activities.
• Be aware of your children's plans and whereabouts. Establish rules about underage drinking, curfew, other behaviors, as well as establish consequences.