This Holiday Season, Cape Assist Warns of the Dangers of Underage Drinking

WILDWOOD – The Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition, a community initiative of Cape Assist, is launching a holiday message with a warning; Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a Party to Teenage Drinking.
According to a release, this message is universal: It is illegal, unsafe and unhealthy for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol. During the holiday season, many adolescents and teens will be home from school, and often there is more alcohol around the house.
Each day, approximately 8,000 youth across the nation will take their first drink of alcohol. Alcohol is the leading drug problem among young people.
Underage drinking is strongly linked to delinquent behaviors, including stealing, illicit drug use and problems at home and at school.
Underage drinking also plays a significant role in increased sexual behavior, including unwanted, unintended and unprotected sexual activity, sex with multiple partners and teenage pregnancy.
“Youth who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse alcohol later in life, than those who begin drinking at or after age 21,” stated Temerity Berry, prevention specialist. “Additionally, heavy alcohol use by adolescents has long-term effects on brain development. These health and safety risks have real consequences that most parents try to protect their children from.”
The Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition encourages parents, educators, businesses, community organizations and others to learn more about the health and safety risks along with the potential legal ramifications of allowing underage drinking to occur.
To find out how to help spread the message or to schedule a free community presentation please contact Temerity Berry at 609-522-5960 or temerity@capeassist.org.
The Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition is a community initiative of Cape Assist. To learn more visit https://www.healthycommunitycoalition.org/