Tooele County Launches Campaign Aimed At Decreasing Underage Drinking
Dec 5, 2019, 12:47 PM | Updated: 2:00 pm
TOOELE, Utah – A new campaign is aiming to curb underage drinking in Tooele County.
All of the school buses in the county – 33 to be exact – are rolling out with new signs that feature slogans like, “Parents, Here’s Your Homework: Set Clear Rules About Underage Drinking.” The aim is to remind parents about the risks involved with binge drinking.
#HappeningNow: New signs on buses raise awareness about underage drinking. This in light of a recent report showing an increase in underage drinking in #TooeleCounty. #Parentsempowered #TooeleCommunitiesthatcare @tooeleschools @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/0ChUqxY7Lq
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) December 5, 2019
During a Thursday press conference, Tooele Prevention Coordinator Peter Clegg cited findings from the 2019 Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention Survey (SHARP), which found a 2% increase in binge drinking among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders between 2017 – 2019.
Binge drinking is considered to be five more drinks within a two-hour period, and it can have devastating effects on a child’s brain development.
“When a teenager or adolescent consumes alcohol, it is rewiring their brain for future addiction,” Clegg said. “If we can delay that first drink until a later age, then that can prevent future alcohol addiction.”
#GetThis: Studies show parents are the number one reason kids choose not to drink. Spending just 15 minutes a day with them makes a 🌎 of a difference. “Your kids have busloads of friends. Knowing them prevents #underagedrinking.” @tooeleschools @KSL5TV #parentsempowered pic.twitter.com/Mhu6hylk0M
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) December 5, 2019
The campaign is a collaborative effort between Valley Behavioral Health, Tooele Communities that Care, the Tooele County School District, and the statewide Parentsempowered.org campaign.
Clegg said research indicates that parents are the No. 1 reason kids decide not to drink. Spending just 10 – 15 minutes with their child in a meaningful way can be a big factor in decreasing their chances of underage drinking.
