Federal government seeks to enact bill to help prevent underage drinking

By Staff Writer

In an effort to help curb the problem of underage drinking, U.S. senators Bob Casey, Chris Dodd, Frank Lautenberg and Jeff Merkley are introducing the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Reauthorization (STOP).

The bill is an extension of the original STOP Act, which was enacted in 2006 to help combat underage drinking and increase prevention activities in state and local communities. Furthermore, the bill aims to boost adult awareness of the dangers alcohol can have on their children.

Senator Casey said that this bill will increase research and data collection done at the federal level on thethe effects of adolescent consumption of alcohol on brain development. He added that encouraging one community to break the cycle of underage drinking can help America get one step closer to addressing the problem.

Boarding schools can assist parents in providing a drug- and alcohol-free environment for their children and designing education to help teens achieve success.

According to a 2008 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 42 percent of high school students reported consuming alcohol at least once in their lifetime.