Underage Drinking

Stats

Underage drinking is one of our state’s most troubling health issues:

• An estimated 85 South Carolinians under 21 die each year from alcohol use.
• Underage drinking costs South Carolina $1 billion per year – $2,309 for each young person in our state.
• 23.1% of students in grades 9 through 12 in South Carolina drank alcohol in the past month.
• 17.8% of these students took their first drink, beyond just a few sips, before age 13.
• Liquor is now the most popular drink of choice among middle and high school students.
• 38.1% of those students who drank alcohol in the past month obtained the alcohol they drank by someone giving it to them.
• 4% of students have driven after drinking in the past month.
• Excessive alcohol use ranks third among lifestyle-related causes of death in the United States.

Parents Who Host

In 2007, DAODAS adopted the national “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most” public awareness campaign to provide parents with accurate information about the health risks of underage drinking and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to youth. The campaign encourages parents and the community to send a unified message that teen alcohol consumption is not acceptable. It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol.

In South Carolina, it’s illegal for any adult to give alcohol to your teen – even with your permission. If they do:

• They face a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and up to $1,075 in fines and fees.
• Their penalties “stack up,” meaning they’re ticketed for each underage person to whom they give alcohol.

In fact, adults can’t knowingly allow anyone under 21 to drink or have alcohol in their home or on their property – even if they don’t provide the alcohol. They can be sued if they give alcohol to minors who then hurt someone, themselves, or damage property.

What You can do to Protect Yourself

• Refuse to supply alcohol to anyone under 21.
• Be at home when your teen has friends over.
• Make sure that alcohol is not brought into your home or property by your teen’s friends.
• Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at other events your child will be attending.
• Create alcohol-free opportunities and activities in your home so teens feel welcome.
• Report underage drinking to local law enforcement.

Resources

• Download a Guide to Talking to Your Child About Alcohol
  • Download the Guide in Spanish
• Download 5 Conversation Goals for Talking to Your Kids About Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Download Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Impaired Driving
• Download Family Agreement on Avoiding Alcohol
  • Download the Agreement in Spanish
• Download the “What Are You Prepared to Lose?” Brochure

Underage Drinking Public Service Messages

• Mad Dad  (DAODAS)
• Incarcerated Mom  (ParentsWhoHost-Ohio, DAODAS)
• Three-Step Process for Preventing Underage Drinking  (parentsempowered.org)
• Talk. They Hear You.  (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Out Of Their Hands

Each year, South Carolina’s Alcohol Enforcement Teams (AETs) – and partnerships between law enforcement and prevention professionals – hold an “Out of Their Hands” (OOTH) Spring Blitz. During this annual event, strict enforcement of underage drinking laws is coupled with strong media messages throughout the spring. The AETs and their enforcement and education partners engage community residents, businesses, and others to deny alcohol access to youth who are less than 21 years of age. The simple message of the OOTH campaign is that the AETs work with the community to keep alcohol “out of their hands.”

For more information on OOTH efforts and AETs