Circuit Rider Productions, Inc., has recently led efforts to form the Windsor Coalition on Families and Youth.  This is a local group comprised of parents, drug and alcohol counselors, school district staff, city council members, and non-profit agency representatives working to prevent underage alcohol consumption in Windsor.

The coalition is adopting the “Parent Action Campaign” as a way to make parents aware that many teens in Windsor are drinking in their own homes or in the homes of other teens. It will empower parents to explain to their teen that they will not tolerate underage alcohol use anywhere, anytime.

1.  AWARENESS

• It provides parents with information about the amount of teen drinking that is occurring in Windsor and where it is taking place
• It gives parents tips on how to prevent their own child from participating in underage alcohol use in and outside of their home
• It provides information about the legal consequences of allowing their child or any other minor to drink in their home

2.  ACTION

• Parents will ask themselves if they have been sending their child the message that they will allow underage alcohol use
• This campaign states that the parent will take responsibility for their teen and explain to their child that they will not tolerate underage alcohol use
• By filling out the information on the next page, a parent is saying to the community, “I will not host underage drinking parties or allow my child to drink in anyone else’s home.”

3.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• The coalition would let the public know how many parents have signed the campaign
• The parent’s name would be published (with permission) so that the community can acknowledge their support of the campaign
  
• When people see that other parents are “taking action” by signing, they will realize how important it is for them to make the commitment as well
  
  

• 26% of 9th graders have used alcohol during the past 30 days
• 48% of 11th graders have been sick or drunk from alcohol use
• 31% of 11th graders have participated in binge drinking (5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row) in the last 30 days.
• Teens report obtaining alcohol from their home without their parents knowing
• Teens report drinking alcohol in their homes and in their friend’s homes
  

• Keep track of where your child is, what they are doing, and who their friends are
• Keep a contact list handy of your teen’s friends and their friends’ parents
• When your teen is invited to a party, contact the parents to verify there will be adult supervision and that there will be no alcohol available
• When your teen arrives home, have him or her check in with you
• Keep track of the alcohol you have in your home. Do you keep it locked up? Is any of it missing?

• Agree on a guest list and don’t allow “party crashers”
• Review the ground rules before guests arrive
• Do not allow a guest to bring individual sized sodas, juices, or water into the party, as they may have mixed alcohol into the bottle
• Be visible and available
• Call the parents of any guest possessing or appearing to be under the influence of alcohol. Don’t allow anyone under the influence to leave the house. Call their parents to pick them up.