Campaign Targeting Access To Alcohol For Teens

Drug Free Highlands and the Highlands County Sheriff's Office want parents of teens to talk with their children about underage drinking and they have come up with a way to initiate that conversation.

Drug Free Highlands, a community coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals, in partnership with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, has introduced "Be the Wall," at the Highlands County Fair. The awareness campaign is designed to lend support and encouragement to parents, retailers, and community members in an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of teenagers.

"Be the Wall" is a statewide social marketing campaign sponsored by the Florida Governor's Office of Drug Control, Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant. Its components include an interactive Web site, humorous posters about natural communication gaps between adults and teens and community displays.

One component of the campaign is to measure the current perceptions regarding underage drinking. Guests visiting the "Be the Wall" booth, integrated with the sheriff's office, are invited to take an anonymous online survey consisting of 10 questions and sign a "brick" as their pledge to "Be the Wall" when talking to youth about drinking or other risky behaviors. These "bricks" will become a symbolic "wall" and will be displayed at the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Community Service Center located near the food court at the Lakeshore Mall.

"It opens a wonderful dialogue," said Debbie Lees, Substance Abuse Reduction Guide coordinator.

Adults may take the survey today and Friday from 5 - 10 p.m. and Saturday from 1 - 10 p.m. The booth is located near the stage at the fairgrounds.

One question on the survey asks is it easy for teens to gain access to alcohol or is it difficult?

"Underage drinking comes down to access - if our teens cannot get their hands on it, they cannot use it," Lees said. "We are asking all community members to help us restrict access to alcohol for teens once and for all."

According to the 2008 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 66 percent of those in high school and middle school in Highlands County chose not drink.

Those who would like to participate in the online survey but are unable to visit the booth at the fair, go to www.highlandssheriff.org, read about the campaign, click on the brick and then click "survey."

Those who would like to participate in the "Be the Wall" campaign or if you need more information about Drug Free Highlands visit the Web site: www.drugfreehighlands.org .