Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/02/2013 -- Underage drinking in Georgia leads to substantial harm due to traffic crashes, violent crime, property crime, unintentional injury, and risky sexual behavior; costing the citizens of Georgia $1,450 billion per year. The State recognizes the pressing need to address the issue of underage drinking by limiting the availability of alcohol to minors.

In spring of 2013, the Governor’s Office for Children and Families strengthened their initiative to reduce sale of alcohol to minors by a two-pronged campaign: sting operations to detect retailers that sell alcohol to underage youth and radio public service announcements to alert alcohol retailers about the dangers and consequences of selling alcohol to underage youth.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs partnered with local law enforcement agencies in focus areas to conduct over 350 compliance checks. The average non-compliance rate was 18%, or one in five sold alcohol to minors. Following this initial check, the public service announcements ran for 16 weeks on local radio stations. Upon completion of the broadcasts, 4,048 messages had been aired.

In the summer of 2013, a second series of alcohol compliance checks took place in the same focus areas. A total of 299 compliance checks were conducted. 60% of focus areas showed a reduction in sales of alcohol to minors.

The Governor’s Office for Children and Families was proud to see communities rally around their youth to assist them with healthy choices. We look forward to their continued success.

Kay M. Manning, LCSW, MAC, ICPS
Associate Director of Prevention/Intervention
The Council on Alcohol & Drugs
537 Providence Circle
Statham, GA 30666
(770) 725-1837 phone
(770) 725-1873 fax
www.livedrugfree.org