Underage Drinking

• Possession of Alcohol Under 18: Civil Citation and referral to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

• Possession of Alcohol 18 to 21: Civil Citation and a possible $500.00 fine.

• Furnishing Alcohol to Someone Under 21: Civil Citation and a fine of $2,500.00 for first offense and $5,000.00 for the second offense.

Why Report Underage Drinking?

Alcohol use is associated with many adolescent risk behaviors, including other drug use and delinquency, weapon carrying and fighting, and perpetrating or being the victim of date rape.

Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20, and the rate of fatal crashes among alcohol-involved drivers between 16-20 years of age is more than twice that of alcohol-involved drivers 21 and older. Young drivers represent 17% of alcohol-involved crashes in St. Mary’s County.

Possible Consequences of Underage Drinking

• Adult alcoholism

• Brain damage

• Loss of driving privileges

• Poor school performance or failure to complete high school

• Risky decision making (e.g. riding with an intoxicated driver)

• Suicide

• Unplanned pregnancy

• Violence

Alcohol is a depressant. It decreases the heart rate, reduces reaction time, slurs speech, and reduces body temperature. Most important, alcohol is a drug, and drinking alcohol in large quantities can result in alcohol poisoning. If a person passes out or vomits, get help. Call 911. Never leave him or her to “sleep it off.”

How to Report Underage Drinking:

• Call Emergency 911, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff's Office at 301-475-8008, or the Maryland State Police at 301-475-8955.

• Call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 or text “TIP239” plus your message to “CRIMES” (274637). All calls and texts to Crime Solvers are anonymous.

 Practice Safe Decision Making

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving – www.madd.org

• Students Against Destructive Decisions – www.sadd.org

• Stop Underage Drinking Portal of Federal Resources – www.stopalcoholabuse.gov

• The Young Teen’s Place for Info on Alcohol and Resisting Peer Pressure – www.thecoolspot.gov

• Dont Drink and Drive www.ddad.org

• Binge Drinking and Young Adults - www.alcohol-abuse-etails.com/Binge_Drinking_and_Young_Adults.html

• National Organizations for Youth Safety www.noys.org

• Choose Safety for Life www.choosesafetyforlife.com

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSAs National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information www.ncadi.samhsa.gov

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism www.niaaa.nih.gov

• Parents.  The Anti-Drug www.theanti-drug.com 

Poster Contest Winners from Area High Schools
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