Together We Can Prevent Underage Drinking
The Fuquay-Varina Coalition for a Healthy and Safe Community, together with the Poe Center for Health Education and the Johnston County Substance Use Prevention Coalition, with support of the North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative, are working to empower parents with the resources to talk with their children and the tools to monitor and secure alcohol in their homes.
- According to national statistics, In 2019, among 12 to 14 year old students who reported that they drank alcohol in the past month, 96.5% reported that they got it for free the last time they drank. In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or finding it at home. (SAMHSA, 2019).
- In Wake County, 46% of high students report that it is easy or sort of easy to access alcohol (2019).
Together we can all spread the message to Talk It Up. Lock It Up!™
What is Talk It Up. Lock It Up!™?
The goal of the campaign is to encourage parents and adults in the community to secure and monitor alcohol in their homes. Led by youth, communities across North Carolina have had thousands of pledges signed by parents and adults who agreed to lock up the alcohol in their homes.
Take YOUR PLEDGE HERE.
Talk to Others
It’s important to spread the message. Talk to your neighbors and friends about underage drinking and what they can do to make a Healthy and Safe Fuquay-Varina. Another way of spreading the message is to let the coalition know what you learn about our community. The coalition in turn spreads the word further to Fuquay-Varina partners such as merchants, schools and parents. As you have conversations with friends and family, please take a moment to fill out this form.
Check out these talking points and let us know about you conversations.
- Do you think there is underage drinking happening in Fuquay-Varina?
- Describe how/where youth are drinking.
- Describe how youth are obtaining alcohol.
- Why do you think this is true for Fuquay-Varina?
- What do you do to monitor alcohol at home?
Talk It Up.
It’s never too early to start the conversation.
- Talk to your child about the dangers of underage drinking.
- Talk to your child about clear expectations around the use of alcohol.
Check out this video below on how to start the conversation.
Lock It Up!
The home is the number one place youth access alcohol. It’s important to monitor and secure alcohol in the home.
- Monitor: Take inventory and regularly check any alcohol in the home.
- Secure: Make sure alcohol is not easily accessible by putting it in locked spaces.
Tips for how to lock and secure.
Modeling Responsible Drinking
Its importand for youth to see the adults in their lives that they look up to modeling responsible drinking. For Adults, we promote responsible drinking by asking them to adopt the 0-1-2 alcohol consumption guidelines.
- 0 Drinks if you are under age 21, pregnant, driving, or in treatment or recovery for alcohol addiction.
- 1 Drink limit per day for women
- 2 Drink limit per day for men.
A standard drink is one 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.