National Wine and Spirits has teamed with the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana to support the Alcohol Safety Network.

The Alcohol Safety Network is an educational forum and informational exchange bringing communities across the nation together to help promote alcohol responsibility. The Alcohol Safety Network draws on the collective resources of the industry, educators, parents, law enforcement, regulators and community organizations to help curb underage drinking in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and Oklahoma.

National Wine and Spirits supports the Alcohol Safety Network in its efforts to raise awareness in the community on the effects of under age drinking.
Together with parents, retail clerks, friends and family the network strives to inform Indiana's young people on the dangerous consequences of underage drinking and what can be done to address this problem.

Some Facts:
-65% of underage youth who drink obtain alcohol from family and friends, according to the Century Council, 2003.

-9 out of 10 Indiana minors say that alcohol is easy to get (IU Public Opinion Laboratory - Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking).

-Annually, Hoosiers pay over $1.3 billion in underage drinking costs (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking).
For more go to: www.alcoholsafetynetwork.org/state/indiana/index.php

The Law:
-Any minor under the age of 21 who is found to possess, consume, obtain, purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic liquor or a cereal malt beverage can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.This is punishable by not more than 60 days in jail and a fine of not more than $500.
For more go to: www.alcoholsafetynetwork.org/state/indiana/index.php

How parents can address these issues:
-The best time to start talking to your child about alcohol is between the ages of 9 and 11. And don't just talk to your child, but also listen to them. When you make an effort to listen, you create an environment where your children will feel more comfortable voicing their concerns.

-Set firm rules and explain clearly that drinking under the age of 21 has legal consequences and could threaten a teenager’s safety. Ask when they are going out, whom they will be with, what they will be doing and which adult will be supervising.

-Keep an eye out for any symptoms of alcohol abuse, like withdrawal from family and friends, dropping grades, or missing money.

-To learn more about discussing underage drinking, discussing the legal impact and providing alternative activities please download: "Tips for Preventing Underage Drinking".
This is in pdf format- go here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Current campaign:
In an effort to educate young people about the consequences of underage drinking as well as to caution adults of the serious consequences of being a “party” to underage drinking, the Alcohol Safety Network (ASN), a new initiative sponsored by the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Indiana, has produced two sets of materials for distribution in Indiana as part of our “You Can’t Afford the Buzz” community awareness campaign:


Click on the image to download the pdf
-Repositionable stickers to be displayed at point of sale venues throughout the state. The stickers caution adults about the legal consequences of purchasing alcohol for a minor.

Click on the image to download the pdf
-Posters to be distributed in schools in Indiana to educate minors about the consequences of underage drinking.

For more information:
Visit the Alcohol Safety Network
Visit the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Indiana