States Unite Against Underage Drinking
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Lt. Governor Aiona led a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. this week to encourage other states to join the U.S. Surgeon General's nationwide call to action to reduce and prevent underage drinking.
The Lt. Governor joins other state and federal leaders in a national effort to reduce and prevent underage drinking.
“Underage drinking can cause serious, potentially lifelong consequences to our children’s health and safety,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to counter a culture that makes alcohol both appealing and accessible to children.”
Last year, the Lt. Governor and then Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu hosted a town hall meeting at Washington Place in Honolulu to launch the call to action initiative. Hawai`i was the first state to respond to the call to action.
As part of the roundtable discussion sponsored by the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation, Lt. Governor Aiona drew upon experiences and challenges in Hawai`i to help other states engage in underage drinking initiatives.
"Childhood drinking must not be tolerated," Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Research shows that young people who start drinking early on are more likely to experience alcohol-related problems later on in life, and new studies have shown alcohol may harm the developing adolescent brain.”
The Lt. Governor followed up that town hall meeting with a coordinated effort in June 2007 to make it harder for young people to access alcohol Hawai`i, where an estimated 65 percent of high school youth have consumed alcohol.
In March, the Hawai`i Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking will host a series of town hall meetings across the state to get communities involved in underage drinking efforts.
Last year, the Lt. Governor and then Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu hosted a town hall meeting at Washington Place in Honolulu to launch the call to action initiative. Hawai`i was the first state to respond to the call to action.
As part of the roundtable discussion sponsored by the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation, Lt. Governor Aiona drew upon experiences and challenges in Hawai`i to help other states engage in underage drinking initiatives.
"Childhood drinking must not be tolerated," Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Research shows that young people who start drinking early on are more likely to experience alcohol-related problems later on in life, and new studies have shown alcohol may harm the developing adolescent brain.”
The Lt. Governor followed up that town hall meeting with a coordinated effort in June 2007 to make it harder for young people to access alcohol Hawai`i, where an estimated 65 percent of high school youth have consumed alcohol.
In March, the Hawai`i Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking will host a series of town hall meetings across the state to get communities involved in underage drinking efforts.
