Underage alcohol use is everybody's problem - and its solution is everybody's responsibility. This is a message from the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. April is Alcohol Awareness Month. In support of this the Williams Alliance joined with 1,500 other coalitions nationwide to bring awareness to the problems of underage drinking in our communities.
One hundred Williams' residents and supporters from Coconino County attended the Williams Town Hall Meeting "Start Talking Before They Start Drinking" held on April 1. The meeting was held to bring together members of the business community, law enforcement, government and public officials, support services, parents and youth to assist the Williams Alliance in identifying actions the community could take and potentially implement in support of preventing and reducing underage drinking.
Those in attendance included city of Williams mayor, city council members, city planner, chief of police, Coconino County board of supervisor, sheriff, Attorney General's chief deputy, Hispanic Advisory Council members, Williams Unified School District administrator and staff, business owners, parents, youth, members of the recovery community, Rotary, Kiwanis and other community supporters all attending with the same goal in mind - the identification of actions to prevent and reduce underage drinking in our community.
These individuals worked in groups to discuss ideas to prevent underage drinking. Through the assistance of co-facilitators, the meeting ended with the identification of 18 actions, which the community wants to support and implement including short term, mid-term, and long-term goals.
From those in attendance, the coalition collected 66 Underage Drinking Town Hall Participant Surveys providing feedback on the individuals' belief and knowledge about underage drinking in our community. The surveys identified an increase in their belief and knowledge of the problem and efforts in the community due to their attendance at this town hall meeting. Six questions were analyzed. The results are as follows:
• Eighty-two percent of respondents strongly agreed that they now believe that underage drinking is a problem in our community. Before this program only 68 percent of respondents believed underage drinking was a problem.
• Seventy percent of respondents strongly agreed that they now know what they can do about underage drinking in our community. Before this program only 17 percent of respondents knew what they could do.
• Sixty-one percent of respondents strongly agreed that they now know about statewide efforts to reduce underage drinking. Before this program only 17 percent of respondents knew about statewide efforts.
In addition to the identification of 18 action plans, and the increase in belief and knowledge of underage drinking in our community, this Town Hall Meeting brought together new supporters to the efforts of the Williams Alliance. These actions and the recommendations from the groups will provide an opportunity for the coalition to expand existing programs and to grow new prevention efforts with an increase in support from the community.
If you were not able to attend the town hall meeting but are interested in receiving a copy of the Surgeon General's Call to Action, or in getting involved with Williams Alliance efforts to support and implement underage drinking prevention programs in our community, contact Alliance staff at (928) 635-9645.
