Drawing The Line On Underage Alcohol Use

About the DTL Program
Drawing The Line On Underage Alcohol Use is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to prevent underage alcohol use by changing community perception of and reaction to underage alcohol use in Montgomery County, Maryland. At the programs formation in 1992, it was found that more than 50 percent of high school seniors and 33 percent of eighth graders reported they had drunk more than five drinks at one time. Surprising statistics, such as these, have brought together county, state, and regional government agencies, members of the community, and local businesses to educate young people and adults about the dangers of underage alcohol use.

The initial scope of the DTL program provided education, resources, and support to residents and businesses in Montgomery County, Maryland. Due to the positive reception by parents, school administrators, government officials, and youth in Montgomery County, the DTL program is expanding the scope of Drawing The Line to the neighboring communities of Washington, DC and northern Virginia. The DTL program is funded by a mixture of private and public funds, as well as, grants for specific activities. Additional strategies for obtaining funding and resources are developed as the geographical scope of the program expands.

The Statistics are Surprising
Surprising statistics, such as the ones below, are a powerful motivator to continue and improve the Drawing The Line program:

41% of alcohol-related fatalities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia involved 15 - 20 year olds. (NHTSA FARS, 2004)
45% in Maryland, 41% in DC, and 39% in Virginia, of the traffic deaths in 2004 were alcohol related. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2005)
2.6 million young people do not know that a person can die of an overdose of alcohol. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA)
Adolescents who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active, which places them at greater risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. (SAMHSA 2004)
Alcohol use among adolescents has been associated with considering, planning, attempting, and completing suicide. (SAMHSA 2004)
300,000 of today's college students will eventually die of alcohol-related causes such as drunk driving accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, various cancers and heart disease. (Core Institute - an organization that surveys college drinking habits)

What Are The Laws and Consequences On Alcohol Use?
Visible tragedies fill the headlines--traffic crashes, violence, even fatalities. Sometimes bystanders are hurt. At home, youth and families struggle with the less visible but more common consequences. Among these are school failure, early sexual activity, other drug use, and many other problems.

Numerous young people try alcohol earlier than their parents did, often while in elementary school. In middle and high school, many continue to drink. Often they drink just to get drunk, especially at unsupervised parties. Many ride in cars with a drinking driver. In addition to the physical and emotional consequences of underage alcohol use, there are legal consequences, as well.

It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 years to have in his/her possession, or under his charge or control, any alcoholic beverage.
It is illegal for those under the age of 21 to drive a motor vehicle with0.02 percent or more blood alcohol. For some that is less than one drink. If you do, you may be fined $500 and your license may be suspended for one year.
Youth under the age of 21 will receive a civil citation for the following: possession of alcohol, being in a car with alcohol, or being in the same location where alcohol is served.
The consequences for a youth under the age of 18 found in possession of alcohol include: a $500 fine for the first offense, a $1000 fine for the second offense, and parents will be notified. The consequences for a youth 18 - 20 years old found in possession of alcohol include: appear in court, a $500 fine for the first offense, $1000 for the second offense, perform 24-36 hours of community service, and attend an alcohol awareness class.
An adult may not knowingly and willfully allow any person under the age of 21 to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage at their residence (leased or owned). That includes taking the alcohol form the liquor cabinet or the refrigerator.
An adult found guilty of obtaining or furnishing alcohol to youth under the age of 21 will receive a fine: $1000 for the first youth involved and $1500 for each youth involved thereafter. Furnishing means handing the alcohol to the youth, buying the alcohol for the youth, or knowingly allow the youth to have alcohol. An adult may serve only their own child. Citations will be issued to the youth under 21 years of age.

Successes Since DTL's Inception
Since Montgomery County began Drawing The Line:

an increase in the number of Montgomery County police officers trained in alcohol enforcement,
an increase in the number of Montgomery County alcohol retailers trained alcohol awareness,
an increase in the number of limousine companies trained in alcohol awareness,
an increase in the number of Montgomery County restaurants trained in alcohol awareness,
a stronger partnership with Montgomery County judges regarding alcohol use in youth under the age of 21,
a continuing community outreach regarding the awareness of alcohol use in youth under the age of 21 to parents and community groups,
involvement of high school and middle school youth through the DTL Commercial Challenge contest,
all the public and many private high schools sponsor after-prom/after-graduation parties,
the State Legislature has passed laws relating to underage drinking, and
parents and schools are working together to set up parent networks and providing alternative activities for teens.

About FSC
DTL is managed by Family Support Center, Inc. (FSC) - a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to help school staff and families prevent, recognize, and overcome mental health and behavior problems in children and adolescents from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. FSC is a single source of integrated, comprehensive, professional services designed to assist families, administrators, teachers, and school staff.

Family Support Center's mental health professionals and prevention specialists work directly in schools and centers to provide the most flexible possible access for staff, students, and families. Founded in 1990, FSC serves more than eighty schools and child care centers serving highly diverse populations in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia.

Some of FSC's specialized programs include S.I.S.T.E.R.S. and H.E.R.M.A.N.A.S., an after school empowerment program for preadolescent and adolescent girls stressing positive peer support and development of self-esteem; PreventionWorks, a school-based training that uses research-based, successful practices to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; On Target, a program to support the students, staff, and parents associated with the MCPS Alternative programs.

ABOUT DRAWING THE LINE ON UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE