Politics & Government

County Targets Underaged Drinking

Burlington County Health officials kick off campaign against underage drinking Saturday at Martin's Liquor in Mount Laurel.

Burlington County Health officials will launch a "Sticker Shock" campaign on St. Patrick's Day—the mother of all drinking holidays—to warn adults not to purchase alcohol for anyone under the age of 21.

Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien said the awareness campaign will officially “kick off” with a special event at 10 a.m. Saturday at Martin’s Liquor Store, Route 38 and Marter Avenue, in Mount Laurel.

“With the evidence clearly indicating some young people in Burlington County begin drinking as early as the age of 12, it’s important to raise the awareness factor for everyone,” said O’Brien. “We’re pleased that vendors like Martin’s Liquor are helping spread the word and also impressed by the number of community partners who are participating in the campaign."

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Participants in the upcoming event include the Burlington County Coalition for Healthy Communities, Burlington County Municipal Alliances, the youth group TEAM (Teen Exposing Alcohol Myths), Burlington County Youth Advisory Board members, and students from Burlington County College’s Human Services Club.

The participating youth will be placing decals on the package goods that state: “Keep it Legal, the penalty for purchasing alcohol for people under 21 is up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.”

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Similar events have been held in the past at the Wine Cellar in Cinnaminson, Cramps Liquors in Edgewater Park and Otts in Medford.

The facts regarding underaged drinking can alarm, said O’Brien. Some of these include:

  • Alcohol is the number one drug of choice for America’s youth.
    (Source: Monitoring the Future, 2004)

  • Alcohol kills more teens than all other illicit drugs combined(Source: New Jersey Middle School Substance Use Survey, 2003)

  • Of the surveyed seventh and eighth grade students in New Jersey, 46.4 percent have used alcohol some time in their lifetimes. (Source: New Jersey Middle School Substance Use Survey, 2003)

  • Approximately 395,000 underage youth in New Jersey drink each year. (Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

  • The average age of first use of alcohol in Burlington County is 12.3 years. (Source: 2010-2011 PRIDE survey)

  • Studies show children who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are seven times more likely than those who start after 21 to develop alcohol problems. (Source: American Medical Association)
  • Research indicates the human brain continues to develop into a person’s early 20s and exposure of the developing brain to alcohol may have long-lasting effects on intellectual capabilities, may interrupt key processes of brain development and alcohol-induced brain damage may persist. (Source: American Medical Association)
  • 20 percent of New Jersey youth had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13. (Source: Center for Disease Control, 2005, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System)
  • In 2005, underage drinkers consumed 17.3 percent of all alcohol sold in New Jersey, totaling $825 million in sales.
    (Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

  • The total cost of underage drinking in 2005 was $1.5 billion (problems include youth violence, traffic crashes, high-risk sex, property crime, injury, poisonings and psychoses, alcohol treatment, etc.) (Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation)

Compounding the problem is evidence that the number-one place for obtaining alcohol by youth is at home. Moreover, 24 percent of high school students reported they binge drank (5 or more drinks in an hour) in the past 30 days.

Residents interested in joining the Burlington County Coalition for Healthy Communities can contact Joe Conlin, Prevention Plus Coalition Coordinator, at 609-261-0001 or visit prevplus.org.

The Burlington County Municipal Alliances are community-based volunteer organizations in the county that coordinate local effort to combat substance abuse. For more information on how to join an alliance in your community, contact Elfrieda M. Francis, County Municipal Alliance coordinator, at efrancis@co.burlington.nj.us or 609-265-5538.

- Information provided by the Office of the Burlington County Freeholders


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