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TRACKING THE ISSUES...

Teen Drinking

Teen Drinking

HELPFUL LINKS...

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Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking
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Teens and Alcohol: Preventing that lethal combination

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Training Programs available in the areas of underage drinking and drug prevention strategies

We at Connecticut PTA are excited to be part of bringing this serious issue to the forefront. We will continue to track this issue, and present updates on this page.
Peg Perillie,
Connecticut PTA Health & Welfare Commissioner

August, 2006

Teens Buying Alcohol Online

More than 3 million minors have a friend who has bought alcohol online and more than half a million have done so themselves, according to a survey.

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD,
Friday, August 11, 2006

According to the survey, more than 3 million minors have a friend who has bought alcohol online and more than half a million have done so themselves.

The survey didn't actually include millions of teens. Those figures are based on about 1,000 youths aged 14-20 who took the survey.

The survey was done in April by Teen Research Unlimited for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc., a national trade association.

"Millions of minors are either buying, or know someone who is buying, wine, beer, and liquor online and having it home delivered without an ID check, while many more are already visiting web sites that sell alcohol," states the survey report.

Among the results:

bullet2% reported having bought alcohol online.
bullet12% reported having a friend who had bought alcohol online.
bulletNearly 1 in 10 said they had visited a web site that sells alcohol.
bulletNearly 4 in 10 thought alcohol is available by Internet.

Two-thirds of the participants said they "definitely will not" buy alcohol online before they turn 21. But the rest didn't rule out the possibility.

And while most participants (81%) said their parents trusted their judgment when using the Internet, three-quarters said their Internet activities can't be controlled by their parents.

At least a third of participants said they thought it would be easy to get wine, wine coolers, beer, and liquor online.

Many weren't concerned about enforcement. Nearly half (45%) said they didn't think they would get caught if they ordered alcohol online or over the telephone.

It's not clear if the participants represent all youth their age.

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America supports state-based alcohol control and opposes "illegal direct shipping," says the association's web site.

SOURCES: Teen Research Unlimited, "Research Findings: Underage Alcohol Access & Consumption -- Internet, Phone, and Mail," Summer 2006. Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc.: "Direct Shipment of Alcohol to Consumers." News release, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc.

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January, 2004

Youth Summit 2004

WHAT: The Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking is holding "Youth
Summit 2004"

WHEN: Friday, February 13, 2004 from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM

WHERE: The State Capitol, Old Judiciary Room

REGISTRATION: Agenda & Registration form: CLICK HERE

Please make sure that each one of the adults and youth planning to attend read, complete, and mail/fax/email the registration form back to CCSUD by February 3, 2004.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Amy B. Logan, Community Coordinator
CT Coalition To Stop Underage Drinking
30 Arbor Street Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860/523-8042 or 800/422-5422
Fax: 860-236-9412
Email:
Amy.Logan@PreventionWorksCT.org

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EDITORIAL: Tighten Teen Drinking Rules

Gary Najarian, Project Director
CT Coalition To Stop Underage Drinking
January 13, 2004

East Hartford and Simsbury are considering local laws targeting underage drinking on private property. Two dozen Connecticut towns have such laws and find they help fight teenage drinking in the absence of a state standard, which would be preferable.

Teens get alcohol from three sources, according to Gary Najarian, project director for the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking: illegal sales at package stores; older friends or siblings; and house parties. During the last six years, Mr. Najarian said Connecticut has clamped down hard on illegal sales. But the party circuit remains a challenge. According to one survey of teens who actively drink, 61 percent said they drink at private parties - often to intoxication.

State law prohibits minors from possessing alcohol and from drinking on public property. Private parties are a loophole in that law. The local ordinances address that problem, allowing an officer to enter private property for reasonable cause and issue citations to minors and adults where underage drinking is occurring. Fines range from $50 to $100 for
each offense.

So far, 27 towns have such ordinances, among them: Bristol, Berlin, Cromwell, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill and West Hartford. These laws respect protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Children may drink in private under the supervision of their parent or guardian.

What they do is plug a bad loophole in state law. Until Connecticut adopts a law giving a single standard for all towns, these local ordinances will do.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Gary Najarian, Project Director
CT Coalition To Stop Underage Drinking
30 Arbor Street Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860/523-8042 or 800/422-5422
Fax: 860-236-9412
Email:
gary.najarian@preventionworksct.org

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