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Underage drinking targeted

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BY JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Aug 03, 2006 - 12:13:19 am CDT

Nebraska ranks among the top 20 percent of states in underage drinking and binge drinking --a dubious honor that state, local and federal officials want to see end.

BY JoANNE YOUNG | Lincoln Journal Star

It can taste like lemonade and fruit drinks.

Story Photo
(LJS File)

It’s easily accessible in many homes, convenience stories, family events and parking lots where tailgate parties abound.

Add to that a biological tendency that enables teens to drink more alcohol than adults before they experience the negative effects of drowsiness, loss of coordination and hangover and their sensitivity to the positive effects: loss of inhibitions and feeling more at ease with their peers.

The result: Alcohol and kids mix it up pretty good.

Nebraska may score high in academic achievement, but it also ranks among the top 20 percent of states in underage drinking and binge drinking, said Steve Wing, associate administrator for alcohol policy at the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

State, local and federal officials want to decrease that interaction, so they took advantage of a gathering of more than 600 state educators Wednesday to put out a call to action to lead the way in keeping kids and their activities alcohol-free.

A joint resolution passed in May by the state Board of Education, the Nebraska School Activities Association and the Nebraska Partners in Prevention, and endorsed by many organizations and individuals since then, calls for alcohol-free student activities and events in facilities and areas where alcohol is not sold or consumed during the activities.

At the state Administrators’ Days conference, a panel of eight speakers asked the educators to join the legion of adults sending the alcohol-free message to kids.

Not one community in Nebraska is not affected by the problems of underage drinking, said Fred Meyer, state Board of Education president.

“The societal cost is intolerable, and it’s huge,” he said.

Wing, who said that for a long time it has been difficult to get people to pay attention to underage drinking, was buoyed by Nebraska’s efforts.

One thing that spurred the action was last year’s state wrestling tournament at the Qwest Center in Omaha.

The Nebraska State Activities Association had continuously asked that alcohol not be served at the center during the tournament, said Jim Tenopir, NSAA executive director. At the 11th hour, he said, the association had to work quickly to ensure alcohol would not be served in hospitality suites there.

The same potential exists at bowling alleys, golf courses and hotels where student activities and sports take place, although many golf courses have made an effort to not serve alcohol during those events, he said.

Maris Bentley, Buffalo County Prevention Advisory Council, told the group the resolution has made a difference.

At a recent family fitness contest celebration at the Kearney Holiday Inn, she said, sponsors were asked to forego the cash bar and they complied. That was significant, she said.

Katie Bauer, a member of the Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board, said adult support of alcohol-free events helps youth groups who are trying to prevent their peers from drinking.

Christensen said student vocational groups are set to hold three-day conferences at such places as The Cornhusker in Lincoln and will ask that during those times, the bar is the only place alcohol will be served.

“If they don’t want to do that, we’ll go someplace else,” he said. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask.“

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.

Nebraska underage drinking

* 73 percent of high school students have taken at least one drink of alcohol in their life

* 43 percent have consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days

* 30 percent have had five or more drinks in a row within a couple of hours in the previous 30 days

— 2005 Nebraska Youth Behavior Risk Survey


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jon wrote on August 3, 2006 5:10 am:
" "an honor state,local,and federal officials want to see end."Then why did they approve a fourth liquor store in a town of 50 people(whiteclay)?Another example of how Natives are considered second-class citizens and expendable in the eyes of said officials. "
politicallyIncorrect wrote on August 3, 2006 6:09 am:
" OK, what exactly again is the point of this? The first paragraph has a statistic (of sorts) in it. Nebraska ranks one of the highest academic achievement records. I did some internet research-it's true. Then, it's in the top 20% of states for underage drinking. Back to the'net, stats are a little fuzzy, but, yeah, it's in that area. Then I got did some more snooping around, to see what effect all the 'ADD (MADD, SADD, RADD, ad infinitum, ad nauseum) media blitz of the last years has had. More people now believe that kids who have ever gotten drunk are bad kids, they do poorly in school, they don't achieve academically, or in sports, and are likely to turn to crime. Is it true? It is not. Statistically, they march right along with the kids who have never gotten drunk. Also, alcohol related driving accidents, according to the Highway Safety Commission, have not decreased significantly in 20 years. They only ever accounted for less than 6%. Driver inattention remains the leading cause of accidents, hovering right around 90%. So, we haven't gained any ground by demonizing our kids, from the days when the officer made you pour your beer on the ground, and if you were snotty about it, he called your folks, who would then punish you severely,...for being snotty! I went to 'beer' parties in high school, with my friends, usually at someone's house. I won the alternate regent's scholarship for my school. I was in the honor society. I graduated college with honors. I didn't become an alcoholic. I became a metallurgist, a mother, a wife, a homeowner. These people are latching on to a cause to make themselves look important, and it sickens me. Fred Meyer says that, “The societal cost is intolerable, and it’s huge,” Notice he doesn't elaborate! Adolescents will always follow a path of rebellion. The more we forbid drinking, the more they will do it. They grow out of it, for pete's sake. My 3 had wine with dinner on special occasions, a beer on the beach as teens. Alcohol was treated casually, drunks looked on with pity, alcohol was de-mystified for them, so when they went through their rebellious stage, they didn't drink to rebel. They all graduated college, all are employed, all are homeowners, one is a father.I want these self-righteous people to stop building themselves up by making our children seem bad. Keep your hands off our kids, they're doing just fine, thank-you! "
Lindsa wrote on August 3, 2006 6:37 am:
" Though this is not a statistic to be proud of, it will be quite difficult making any changes. Especially in small communities, there really isn't much else to do other than go to someone's house or pasture and drink. And it wasn't seen as a big deal to many parents, since they did the exact same thing. There are a lot of parents out there that don't care if they drink as long as they don't drive home. "
hold your head up wrote on August 3, 2006 7:21 am:
" Hey we should all be proud!! At least we rank high in something!! "
Laura wrote on August 3, 2006 7:55 am:
" Lets hear it--the "I did it when I was a kid, so its OK" crowd. Me and my friends didn't drink in high school and we're the ones now who are engineers, doctors, businessmen, etc... Not some blue collar factory job or a metallurgist. We made something of ourselves. Not that all kids who drink are losers, but I'd bet you'd find quite a few of them who couldn't make it through college because they partied too much and are now selling cars for a living. I say enact a new law that makes teen victims of fatal drunken accidents (shootings, car accidents, etc...) have an open casket funeral and post pictures of their mangled bodies in the schools. That might turn a few kids off. "
science teacher wrote on August 3, 2006 8:27 am:
" Hey, I don't think it's a good idea for kids to drink, but they do. This grandstanding isn't going to stop it. Cutting them down isn't going to stop it. And for anyone who's interested, a metallurgist is a highly educated scientist, not a blue collar worker. For that matter, what's wrong with being a blue collar worker? I'm a teacher with a masters degree. There are MANY 'blue collar' workers in my nice neighborhood, and they earn more money than I do. "
You are better than me? wrote on August 3, 2006 8:40 am:
" Why is alcohol legal if it causes so many problems? It always baffles me that the drug called alcohol is legal along with Oxycontin and Valium but Extasy and Marijuana are illegal. They all cause damage to the body and cause impairment which leads to fatal accidents. It also is sad to hear Laura spouting this "we're the engineers and doctors, not some blue-collar factory workers" ignorance. You think you are better because you could afford a different education than someone else? People are people. To be "somebody" you have to conform to the traditional idea of success? I too am a well educated woman but I would never surround myself with people who judge others blindly, that is nose in the air. The comment you left makes an impression that you are closed minded and arrogant, not to say you actually are since I do not know you. Also, your new "law" is a bad idea and a waste of time. Not only would that punish the victims family, it would be ineffective. Everyone knows scared straight methods do not work. To keep kids from drinking, provide some activities or place to go to prevent this boredom and some adequate education. A lot of kids can't afford to be in sports or other extracurricular activities, the main reason for kids drinking when I was in high school and even middle school is because of curiosity and boredom. "
Amazed wrote on August 3, 2006 9:01 am:
" It didn't appear to me that this article was meant to make 'our children seem bad'. What it said to me is that adults are being recognized as a supplier of alcohol to our kids. You just solidified that fact with your comments. You and your kids may have come out of your underage drinking binges unscathed -- there are numerous families who aren't that lucky. If you need someone to elaborate on Mr. Meyer's comment about the cost of underage drinking being huge, perhaps you should ask the Spady family of Beatrice whose daughter died of an alcohol overdose. She'll not have the opportunity to 'grow out of it'. Ask the established residents of the North Bottoms who have to endure countless UNL beer parties in their neighborhood, along with the urinating, deficating, vandalism, disturbances and littering that ends up in their yards as a result. Ask any public school that has battled a lawsuit because alcohol was obtained and consumed by a student attending a school function and it resulted in injury or death. You say that it sickens you that a few groups of people wish to 'make themselves look good'. Well, it sickens me that you not only condone underage drinking, you contribute to it and even WITH your college education, you don't have the common sense to realize it. "
Jasen wrote on August 3, 2006 9:19 am:
" Most people who "study" under age drinking miss the boat for this area. Around here, kids drink when they are bored. Nothing to do around here for a 16-20 year old. "
Karen wrote on August 3, 2006 9:43 am:
" We've got to find these kids something to do! Whatever happened to wrist bands? You remember, at an event where alcohol was served, those old enough to drink were given wrist bands. Those who weren't, were not. that way minors could still enjoy the live music, the dancing, the sporting event, etc. with the adults. I think this is a much more realistic solution than trying to get adults to not serve drinks when minors will be present. Adults won't take much more restriction in their lives, than is already there. "
peb wrote on August 3, 2006 9:52 am:
" What needs to be figured out is why some kids drink themselves into oblivion. I've heard about kids saying, "I'm going to get drunk this weekend so I can feel happy for a while." What's making them so unhappy? Maybe we need to spend some time figuring out what makes kids feel so bored, depressed, self-conscious, etc., that they feel the need to get totally smashed. We as parents/adults need to listen, watch and simply, enjoy our kids. "
Tranquilo wrote on August 3, 2006 11:02 am:
" Oppression and depression from a culture that enages in lies, unjust wars and religious condemnation are enough to drive kids into a world of escape. Parents are not without blame, for they have left their choldren without hope. That children have been lost to ethanol isn't surprising, they know their President was a drunk and WHO put him into the limelight as a role model? Sure he is not the same now as he was in his youth...but kids know...leadership and blind loyalty have yielded this condition. Christ made wine as his first miracle to let us know life is to celebrate., "
Dan wrote on August 3, 2006 11:09 am:
" Only a "sucker" would believe a survey put out by a beaurocrat. There is no "crisis" when it comes to underage drinking. This is all a waste of taxpayer money. "
GDRich wrote on August 3, 2006 11:13 am:
" It is sad parents don't look at their roots and heritage. Europeans have long allowed a more liberal policy for responsible consumption of wine and beer. It is unfortunate parents don't share responsible drinking in everyday family settings. Sometimes intolerence instills revolt and for many adolescents the nagging parent and home pressures drive kids to drink...I've been a teacher long enough to see there kids from all social classes with parents who would would drive me, a teetotaler to drink or search for escape drugs! "
Justin wrote on August 3, 2006 11:41 am:
" I agree that sharing drinking in responsible family settings is a much better idea than total intolerance. Forbidding an adolescent anything waves a red flag that this is a way to assert their independence, and make them adult. Looks like it's the teachers and the educated here that know this. Wrist bands are a good idea too. I remember a lot of venues that used to have them. Anything that makes our teens feel included in our lives, rather than alienated, is a positive thing. It's already been proven that attempts such as those in the article, the so called 'call-to-action', don't work. "
Garold wrote on August 3, 2006 12:42 pm:
" I really need a drink. "
Jay wrote on August 3, 2006 1:03 pm:
" I wish they would ban alcohol altogether like smoking in public places. People CAN live without alcohol if they choose. I can't wait to hear all the addicts complain that they can't enjoy dinner without a beer or other liquor. YES YOU CAN, you choose not to. Face it, your an addict. Addicted to Alcohol, cigarettes, and who knows what else. Lincoln needs to go dry in my opinion. "
Disgusted wrote on August 3, 2006 1:42 pm:
" There have been some very interesting comments on this issue. It's unfortunate that people like Laura support the rather ignorant notion that only "blue collar" types are involved in underage drinking. I've met a lot of white collar alcoholics during my career as a criminal defense attorney, and I've defended more than a few teens on MIP charges who went on to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Is underage drinking a problem? Yes, but not any more so than it was when I was a teen. Condescending comments like those from "Amazed" who seems to imply that anyone who doesn't share his "chicken little" view of underage drinking do nothing to further constructive discussion of this issue. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of "politically Incorrect" and "You are better than me?", to name a few. If groups like Project Extra Mile and PRIDE would expend more effort toward finding alternatives to underage drinking and less toward trying to get the courts to extract a pound of flesh from everyone charged with MIP or procuring for minors, we might actually bring the state's ranking down. "

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