Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a problem nationally, but we must pay attention locally. If you are aware of gatherings in the woods, or parties at houses where underage drinking is occurring, please stand up and take responsibility for the health and safety of our children and call 1-888-UNDER-21 or the police department in Springfield (215-836-1600).

What follows is a useful Q&A about underage drinking, from The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board website.

What happens when I call 1-888-UNDER-21?

An operator takes your information and refers it to the appropriate law enforcement agency, anonymously if you choose.

Who should call 1-888-UNDER-21?

Anyone with information about places where minors are drinking or planning to drink should call the hotline. You can also call about people who are selling fake IDs.

Don't the police have more important things to do?

Part of the reason underage drinking is such a problem is that it leads to other crimes that hurt innocent people, such as assault, vandalism, impaired driving and disorderly behavior.

What should I do if my child is arrested for underage drinking?

First, realize there are two issues: legal matters and the drinking itself. Contact your attorney to handle the legal matters. Then, get help for your child from a school student assistance program or drug and alcohol counselor.

How big is the underage drinking problem?

Alcohol is the drug of choice for 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. With 49% of 12th graders reporting using alcohol in the past 30 days. Pennsylvania students experiment with alcohol at a higher rate than do students across the country.

Why is alcohol a problem for teens?

More teens die from alcohol poisoning or drunk driving crashes than from all other causes combined. Half of teen suicides, homicides, assaults, drowning and recreational deaths and injuries involve alcohol.

Why is drinking alcohol more of a problem for kids than adults?

Younger drinkers are more likely to develop addiction or drinking problems later. People who began drinking before age 15 were four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who began drinking at age 21.

Isn't alcohol a college problem?

The average age when kids first try alcohol is 12. That's sixth grade.