New Campaign Targets Underage Drinking
Lt. Governor Aiona last week announced the start of a new effort to help prevent childhood drinking in Hawai`i, where alcohol remains the No. 1 substance abuse issue among youth across the state.
Lt. Governor Aiona shows reporters a copy of a newspaper insert to promote his campaign against underage drinking.
As part of the awareness campaign, Lt. Governor Aiona said the week was proclaimed “We Don’t Serve Teens Week” in Hawai‘i.
The central focus of the campaign was to engage parents and adults in a coordinated effort to keep children alcohol free, Lt. Governor Aiona said.
To help draw statewide attention to this often overlooked problem, the Lt. Governor said that an easy-to-read resource guide on the role adults can play is available to every household in Hawai‘i. The 12-page guide was inserted Wednesday, Sept. 24, in all daily newspapers across the state.
“In addition to all the facts and information included in the insert, its overarching message is positive and hopeful,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “And that message is that we, as parents and responsible adults, have more power over the choices our children make than we may realize.”
Among the three speakers at the news conference was Valerie Mariano, Chairwoman of the Hawai‘i Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking in O`ahu, whose members represent county, state and federal agencies as well as non-profit groups and private businesses. The other speaker was Brian Yokotake, director of human resources at 7-Eleven, the national chain of convenience stores, which recently adopted a policy that requires all customers purchasing alcohol to show proof they are at least age 21.
- Read the Underage Drinking insert.
