BELOIT (WKOW) -- High school prom and graduation season is coming up, but with the annual celebrations, come the annual concerns about kids getting drunk and sometimes driving.
Rock County authorities are trying to get ahead of the problem this year by holding a town hall meeting at Beloit Memorial High School. The goal: making sure parents are aware that nowhere is underage drinking more of a problem than in Wisconsin.
Health experts say alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among young people, and here in Wisconsin, where drinking can be a part of the culture, it can have major consequences. That's why Youth 2 Youth of Rock County is hosting a town hall meeting on underage drinking-- at the right time of year to raise awareness.
For added impact, Rock County law enforcement, an emergency responder, and an area judge, who all deal with the effects of underage drinking every day, talk about their experiences.
Youth 2 Youth is hoping a change to the youth drinking culture will start with the parents.
"They have to be communicating with their kids on a daily basis as to what's happening with them," says Fran Fruzen, coalition chair of Youth 2 Youth.
The students are involved too, talking to adults and each other about the facts and the risks.
The community is hoping to reverse the trend that makes Wisconsin the state with the highest number of underage drinkers in the nation.
Youth 2 Youth leaders say at this time of year parents should talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking, make sure they're not going to unsupervised parties, and be there when your kids come home from social activities.
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BELOIT (WKOW) -- The community is invited to join a town hall discussion with Rock County authorities to talk about the prevalence of underage drinking.
Youth 2 Youth of Rock County, law enforcement and the Beloit Memorial High School PTO will meet with members of the community Tuesday night to address how to positively change the drinking culture for young people.
According to the 2010 Surgeon Generals Report, 5,000 people under the age of 21 die every year from alcohol-related injuries, and Wisconsin has the highest number of underage drinkers in the nation.
The community is invited to join the conversation at the Beloit Memorial High School Cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
Tonight on 27 News at 10, Jennifer Kliese will share more about their discussion.
