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NEWS
Effort aims to reduce underage drinking
Larry Kendall, traffic safety director in the West Virginia GovernorÕs Highway Safety Program, speaks during a press conference held to kick-off an underage drinking prevention campaign Friday, July 25, 2008, in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Officials and advocates throughout the county are teaming up to fight underage drinking.
An "intense wave" of compliance checks will take place in August and September throughout the city and county to prevent minors from obtaining alcohol, according to officials.
Alcohol remains the number one drug of choice among young people, said Anne McGee, director of the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership.
McGee said 43.6 percent of Cabell County sixth- through 12th-graders reported using alcohol in the past year during a recent survey. More than 59 percent of Marshall University students reported drinking before the legal age.
The partnership announced Friday it was joining with the Governor's Highway Safety office, Marshall University, the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, and local law enforcement agencies to reduce underage drinking.
The added partners and funding will help to continue ongoing efforts and have a great impact, said Larry Kendall, traffic safety director in the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program.
"We're really thrilled to be able to continue the program ... and save a few lives in the process," Kendall said.
Efforts over the past year have reduced the times minors were able to purchase alcohol from 43 to 17 percent, according to ABCA statistics.
Officials will target underage drinking on campus and throughout the county, according to Cabell County Chief Deputy Jim Scheidler.
Scheidler said efforts to check bars and convenience stores will occur during summer and continue as the fall college session returns.
"Drinking is associated with so many problems on campus," said Amy Saunders, coordinator of student health education programs at Marshall.
Violent crimes, sexual assault and failing grades often involve alcohol, she said.
Scheidler said the majority of police reports involving juveniles during the summer are also related to alcohol consumption.
