State Kicks-Off Campaign To Combat Underage Drinking

A statewide campaign has been launched to reduce underage drinking. The “12 mirrors 21” campaign links community groups, law enforcement, schools, and various agencies to spread the message to minors – drinking doesn’t just make you drunk – it is physically harmful. The campaign has been organized by the Missouri Youth-Adult Alliance. Project Director Sherry Neal-Horsey says adults have a major stake in the program, because it’s adults who sell or give alcohol to children. She thinks penalties for adults supplying alcohol to minors must be tougher – a minimum $500 fine for first offense. Her organization is going to be putting up billboards and circulating other kinds of ublicity about the effort. Communities and organizations are being given materials to distribute. The effort will continue through next year. She says one of her group’s next targets will be advertising that does not target minors but makes drinking seem too attractive to them.