An aggressive anti-alcohol campaign targeting youths as young as nine years old is currently being developed by the National Drug Commission.

With the 2000 Bermuda Student Survey reporting the average age a student takes his or her first drink at 10.5 years, the NDC is planning to launch a campaign to reduce children?s public access and exposure to alcohol.

Other objectives of the campaign are to increase public disapproval of alcohol use by minors. Limiting access of alcohol to minors at point sale locations and increasing awareness of the medical and social consequences of youth alcohol use is also an objective of the campaign.

The NDC also wants to increase the conversations parents and caregivers have with young people between the ages of nine and 17 about the harmful effects of underage drinking.

With the planned campaign theme ? ?Holding young people solely responsible for under-aged drinking is like holding fish responsible for dying in a polluted stream? ? the NDC plans to raise awareness of the impact of environmental influences on underage drinking as stated in its Press release.

Under the direction of NDC prevention officer Kimberly Jackson, the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention CADA has been reorganised to focus specifically on alcohol issues. The NDC said CADA has developed a business plan scheduled for implementation some time later this year. The plan calls for addressing under-aged drinking through ?server intervention training and environmental approaches?.

The Press release also states that NDC Research Officer Ken Douglas is preparing to utilise a standardised tool kit for all students beginning with the late elementary to high school aged students in the 2004/2005 school year to raise awareness among students about the dangers of alcohol use.

The NDC says its prevention strategy seeks to provide ?sufficient legislation and policies relating to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs to ensure synergy with community wellness and safety.?

The goal is that by March 2006 the percentage of users and non-users who say the substance is ?easy? to obtain, as measured against the 2000 Student survey will be reduced. The NDC is also looking to achieve within a three year period, by March 2006, a 25 percent reduction in the incidence of drunk and disorderly conduct and driving under the influence by ensuring that all licensed establishments will have received responsible server training and developed alcohol policies.

?The NDC believes these are not easy challenges, the stakes are very high, but we can and must protect our children and their good health. We must work together as parents, schools, law enforcement, policymakers, physicians, and public health specialists to eliminate underage drinking in our community.?