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Local Youth Take the Lead in Efforts to Combat Underage Drinking
Tuolumne County – This spring, students in Summerville Union High School Bears Campus Action Group Friday Night Live (FNL) will launch a campaign to tackle underage drinking in Tuolumne County. FNL is a youth-led program that builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engages youth as active community leaders, and generates resources to create positive changes on issues that matter to them. Although underage drinking rates continue to decline, the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) found that young people in 7th, 9th, and 11th grades have engaged in alcohol use in the past month at rates of 4%, 10%, and 14% respectively (CHKS, 2023). Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has shown underage alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of risks and dangerous consequences, including impaired judgment, risky behaviors, interference with brain development, and increased risk of developing substance use disorders in adulthood (NIAAA, 2024). The Summerville FNL youth are taking a stand to promote healthy alternatives to underage drinking, creating safer communities.
There is a common misconception that all young people engage in underage drinking, perpetuated by movies, television, music, and social media. These portrayals create a skewed image of youth behavior. As a result, many young people who choose to avoid drinking may feel isolated or out of place. Social norms (the behaviors and attitudes a group believes are acceptable) significantly influence individual choices. Research shows these norms can shape teens' behavior and what they think is "normal."
In response to this, the youth are launching a multi-media campaign designed to challenge the negative stereotypes about youth and alcohol. The initiative will promote positive social norms by sharing posters, digital graphics, and public service announcements created by young people about making healthy choices and living alcohol-free. By amplifying these voices, the campaign aims to inspire other teens to make empowered decisions about their health and well-being, while shifting the broader narrative about youth and alcohol. Efforts will include a Public Service Announcement (PSA) created by youth to share their message widely (both online and across school campuses), a Sober Selfie Challenge to celebrate and normalize alcohol-free lifestyles, and the creation of vibrant digital posters to display on campus and in key locations across the county where youth gather.
"The power to create change lies in the hands of those willing to take the first step. At Summerville Union High School, our youth are proving that leadership. It isn’t about age, it’s about action. By challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting positive choices, these young leaders are not just combating underage drinking; they’re building a healthier, safer community for us all," says Tiffany Rizzo-Weaver, ATCAA’s FNL Advisor and Youth Development Coordinator who is also overseeing this effort.
Throughout the year-long underage drinking prevention campaign, group members will receive training on data collection, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership and advocacy skills. The group will utilize environmental prevention strategies through youth-led initiatives to educate their peers, neighbors, and local leaders on ways to reduce underage drinking access and mitigate the damage caused to communities resulting from underage drinking.
The Summerville Union High School Bears Campus Action Group is part of FNL, a statewide initiative, that includes forty-five FNL chapters from across California who receive support from the California Friday Night Live Partnership (CFNLP) through funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The local chapter is run by Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency’s Prevention Programs Department. There are many FNL programs throughout the county including Club Live for middle schoolers and Kids Live for Elementary aged children.
For more information about FNL in Tuolumne County, visit https://www.atcaa.org/fnl or follow them on Facebook @FridayNightLiveTC.
For further details surrounding the above-listed data points, please see the resources below:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/about-iccpud/data/national-reports/report-to- congress/default.aspx
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