Alcohol Awareness for Teens

Learn about how alcohol can harm your body and damage your brain. Find out how you can resist peer pressure to drink and ways to have fun without using alcohol or other drugs. Visit the Cool Spot

College Students
Trace the flow of alcohol through your body and see how it affects each of your organs and read more about common alcohol related myths at College Drinking Prevention

DID YOU KNOW THE MINIMUM DRINKING AGE IS 21 IN FLORIDA AND EVERY STATE IN THE U.S.?

It is illegal in Florida for anyone under age 21 to purchase or possess alcohol. The penalty is up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail (Statute 562.111). Possessing a fake ID is illegal. Using  a "borrowed" legal identification or an ID with the birth date that has been altered is a second degree misdemeanor. Using a computer generated fake ID is a felony in Florida (see related FL statute 322.212) Providing or selling alcohol to anyone under age 21 is also illegal (related statute). Wait till you are 21 to drink. Alcohol can affect brain development, which research shows continues until the mid twenties. If you are 21 or older and you chose to drink, drink in moderation (1 drink per day for women or 2 drinks per day for men). Women who are trying to get pregnant or who are pregnant should not drink alcoholic beverages at all to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

DRINKING KILLS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE THAN ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS COMBINED.

"How Much is Too Much?"
Take this short quiz to determine if drinking is likely to be harming to your health or increasing your risk for future harm. Take quiz.

S.A.D.D.
Learn more about Students Against Destructive Decisions and take part in helping your friends and other students make positive decisions about challenges in everyday life. Visit the S.A.D.D. website here.

Youth in Action

Learn about the Power of You(th), a youth group supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. You can enter a video contest to help stop underage drinking and win an iPad 2.

DON'T DRINK and DRIVE!

In Florida, it is illegal for persons under age 21 to drive with any alcohol in their system. If a law enforcement officer pulls you over and you blow a .02 BAC or above, you can have your driver's license suspended for 6 months (Zero Tolerance law) See administrative penalties for persons under age 21 driving with BAC of .02 or higher- FL Statute 322.216.

A DUI CAN COST YOU $9,000- the $9,000 drink poster and bookmark.

See Florida DUI law and penalties

Alcohol Facts for Teens

Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.

Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.

Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, such as driving when you shouldn’t, or having unprotected sex.

Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma or even death. Driving and drinking also can be deadly. In 2003, 31 percent of drivers age 15 to 20 who died in traffic accidents had been drinking alcohol.¹

Alcohol can hurt you--even if you're not the one drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.

Know the law. It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under age 21.

How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

• Getting drunk on a regular basis

• Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using

• Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun

• Having frequent hangovers

• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal

• Having "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking

What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686. In Hillsborough County, call 211 or go to the Community Resources web page.

Do you have a drinking problem?

Contact Alcoholics Anonymous- call 813-933-9123 or go to Tri-County Central Office AA for on-line information and AA meeting schedules. There is a weekly AA meeting for young people in Hillsborough County. The meeting is at the First Christian Church, 350 Hyde Park Ave on Thursdays at 7:30. Call 813-933-9123 for more information.