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Press Releases & News
Underage drinking to be panel subject
A town hall meeting about underage drinking in Shelby County will be Monday at Family Connection.
The event will be noon to 1:30 p.m. and feature a panel of law enforcement officials and therapists. They will discuss the problem of drinking by minors and how parents, teachers and authorities can work to prevent it.
Carol Williams, Family Connection project director, said underage drinking is the No. 1 substance abuse problem in most communities.
According to statistics gathered during the 2009 Pride Survey of Shelby County School students:
Nine percent of sixth- to eigth-graders use alcohol monthly.
Twenty-nine percent of ninth- to 12th-graders use alcohol monthly.
Thirty-one percent of sixth- to eighth-graders have easy or very easy access to alcohol.
Sixty-two percent of ninth- to 12th-graders have easy or very easy access to alcohol.
"We want this meeting to help people talk about the different reasons this issue exists, whether it's parents providing alcohol or stores not asking for proof of age," Williams said.
Family Connection provides education, counseling and shelter services for Shelby County youths and families.
Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb will speak. She will address legal ramifications of underage drinking and what laws can be changed or strengthened to help stop the problem, Williams said.
Representatives of the Alabama Department of Public Health, Bradford Health Services, Chilton-Shelby Mental Health, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Alabama and the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition will also take part in the event.
Family Connection is at 2 Walker Run, Alabaster, just off Shelby County 26 between Alabaster and Columbiana.
For more information about the meeting, call 663-6301, extension 201.
Marienne Thomas-Ogle, The Birmingham News
The event will be noon to 1:30 p.m. and feature a panel of law enforcement officials and therapists. They will discuss the problem of drinking by minors and how parents, teachers and authorities can work to prevent it.
Carol Williams, Family Connection project director, said underage drinking is the No. 1 substance abuse problem in most communities.
According to statistics gathered during the 2009 Pride Survey of Shelby County School students:
Nine percent of sixth- to eigth-graders use alcohol monthly.
Twenty-nine percent of ninth- to 12th-graders use alcohol monthly.
Thirty-one percent of sixth- to eighth-graders have easy or very easy access to alcohol.
Sixty-two percent of ninth- to 12th-graders have easy or very easy access to alcohol.
"We want this meeting to help people talk about the different reasons this issue exists, whether it's parents providing alcohol or stores not asking for proof of age," Williams said.
Family Connection provides education, counseling and shelter services for Shelby County youths and families.
Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb will speak. She will address legal ramifications of underage drinking and what laws can be changed or strengthened to help stop the problem, Williams said.
Representatives of the Alabama Department of Public Health, Bradford Health Services, Chilton-Shelby Mental Health, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Alabama and the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition will also take part in the event.
Family Connection is at 2 Walker Run, Alabaster, just off Shelby County 26 between Alabaster and Columbiana.
For more information about the meeting, call 663-6301, extension 201.
Marienne Thomas-Ogle, The Birmingham News