by Lisa Frederiksen
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its 2009 “We Don’t Serve Teens” public education campaign to help parents and communities prevent young people from easy access to alcohol. Data show that most kids who drink alcohol get it free from family or friends, often with disastrous results. About 5,000 people under 21 die each year from alcohol-related injuries, including auto accidents, homicides, and suicides, according to a U.S. Surgeon General’s report. Additional results are the risks associated with repeated alcohol abuse on brain development ages 12 through 25. As the U.S. Surgeon reported in his 2007 Call to Action, 18-20 year olds have the highest rate of alcoholism in the United States.
Public- and private-sector organizations sponsoring the campaign include law enforcement agencies, consumer groups, and representatives of the alcohol and advertising industries. The FTC’s DontServeTeens.gov Web site features information about the rates and risks of teen drinking, links to state alcohol laws, and suggestions for what people can do and say to prevent teens from drinking and getting injured as a result. The site also offers free materials that can be downloaded.
