The Need:

In Connecticut, children are drinking too much, too early and too often. Connecticut’s high school students drink at a rate that is 26% higher than regional and national averages. The state’s middle school students are drinking at rates nearly 30% higher. Youth say that alcohol is easy to obtain, and that adults often look the other way when faced with underage drinking.

• Almost 28% of 8^th graders and 60% of 12^th graders report drinking in the past 30 days
• More than 60% of teen drinking occurs at parties in their own homes
• Thirty- six (36) percent of young people who drink purchase their own alcohol

About Our Program:

In January of 2004 the Town of East Haven was one of seven Connecticut communities selected to receive a federal grant of $100,000 to develop a comprehensive approach to combat underage drinking in East Haven. The East Haven Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking consists of representatives of the Town of East Haven, school system, police department, Youth Service Bureau, the business community, parents and youth. The Coalition identifies needs and priorities relating to underage drinking in East Haven then selects and implements the best and most promising practices to increase the enforcement of underage drinking laws and to prevent and reduce underage drinking.

Local Contacts:

For more information on the East Haven Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking or to volunteer please contact Coalition coordinator, Joe Buonome, 468-3320, Youth Detective Mike D’Amato, 468-3828 or Youth Service Bureau coordinator Bob Petrucelli, 468-3297.

Activities of the East Haven Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking:

• Working with the East Haven Police Department to perform ongoing compliance checks of town merchants who sell liquor
• Coordinated  training of town merchants who sell liquor by the CT State Liquor Commission
• Worked with the Town Council to create a new local ordinance to prevent underage drinking
• Working with community groups to raise awareness to the dangers of underage drinking
• Organized a new community forum to address underage drinking
• Organized ongoing monthly coalition meetings
• Distributed educational materials at community events
• Conducted a middle school poster contest to raise awareness