UNDERAGE DRINKING
Message from Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Each person at the Department of Health and Human Services shares the profound charge of helping Americans live longer, healthier lives.I’m convinced that we need to create a culture of wellness in our society: To teach people about small steps they can take, and good choices they can make, that lead to better health.
Learned early, the lessons of good health will last a lifetime. Similarly, bad habits and the consequences of unhealthy choices also can have lasting effects.
That is why this Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking is so important.
This Call to Action is a reminder that underage drinki8ng has serious social costs and often tragic personal consequences. More than that, this Call to Action demonstrates that each of us has the opportunity to prevent underage drinking.The Call to Action also offers a way forward through the collaborative effort of societal change involving parents, police officers, colleges, and communities. This type of societal change requires the discipline and determination to take small steps toward reducing underage drinking each day.
Many of these efforts are already underway, but much more must be done. The time to act is now.
It won’t be easy. But the hard way is often the best way and the benefits of reducing underage drinking are significant and substantial.
I urge everyone to work with the Surgeon General and me so that together we can answer the call to reduce underage drinking, encourage good choices, and create a culture of wellness across the Nation.
For more information on the Call to Action go to www.surgeongeneral.gov DOWNLOADS Why to Adolescents Drink Alcohol Alert Quick Stats The Cost of Underage Drinking In Ohio