UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION
The Governor's Prevention Partnership has made significant progress in reducing the risk factors associated with underage drinking in Connecticut and in promoting the creation of comprehensive prevention initiatives across our state. Here is a sample of some positive outcomes we have seen over the past 10 years:
- The Governor's Prevention Partnership worked with the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking (CCSUD), a statewide volunteer coalition, to provide guidance and support to more than 100 local community coalitions across the state working on issues related to underage drinking.
- Student surveys indicate that the percent of underage students that consumed alcohol in the last 30 days has dropped 8.9%.
- Compliance check failure rates have fallen significantly over the past 8 years. When the program was initiated, 75% of the merchants were selling to minors. Now, after years of enforcement and education, less than 18% of licensed outlets are selling alcohol to underage customers.
- The Governor's Prevention Partnership worked with the CCSUD to advocate for the Connecticut General Assembly to pass several alcohol-related laws intended to curb underage drinking and related harms. These include: keg registration, a "zero tolerance" law which lowered the blood alcohol level to .02 for a DUI conviction for persons under 21, and a prohibition on drive-up alcohol sales.
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On October 1, 2006 a new piece of legislation was adopted to close the loop-hole allowing possession on private property and "social hosts."
*For more information please visit: www.housepartybill.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
Preventing Underage Drinking in Connecticut - Moving Toward Solutions
Statewide Prevention Conference
The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Prevention Services Unit,
in collaboration with a planning committee of representatives from The Governor's
Prevention Partnership, Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut,
The Connecticut Clearinghouse, The Consultation Center and DMHAS Problem Gambling
Services, will sponsor a statewide prevention conference, "Preventing Underage
Drinking in Connecticut - Moving Towards Solutions" on Thursday, May 8, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell,
Conn.
The morning agenda will include a keynote speaker and a panel of presenters who
will provide their perspectives on the problems and solutions raised by the keynote.
The afternoon agenda will consist of workshops focusing on youth Involvement,
campus initiatives, Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) grantees and the involvement
of media, and local enforcement/compliance initiatives, to name a few. The purpose
of this conference will be to share current strides that have been made and discuss
innovative ideas to further enhance prevention efforts in Connecticut including
effective utilization of media. Special effort will be made to recruit youth
and family members as conference participants.
For more information, visit www.ct.gov/dmhas.