Health & Fitness
That's Amore!
Typically, summer is about burgers and dogs. For me, it is all about pizza. This isn't because I don't eat meat, it is because of the Task Force's Be the Wall campaign.
Be the Wall is a multimedia campaign that asks community members – parents, coaches, business owners, young people, law enforcement, clergy, teachers, and more – to take a stand against underage drinking by being the wall between youth and alcohol. You’ve probably already seen some of our Be the Wall materials around town: balloons, bags, pens and water bottles were handed out at Bike Fest; our humorous and informative PSA started running before every movie shown at Marquee Cinemas in Westbrook; a billboard will be put up toward the end of June near the police station. And as of last Thursday, hundreds of Be the Wall stickers are on pizza boxes at six nearby restaurants: Aunt Shirley’s, Bella Maria Pizzeria, Ceniccola’s, Clinton Pizza, Grand Apizza, and Nuzzo’s. Next time you order a pizza, take a minute to read the Be the Wall message before opening the box. While you enjoy your slices with the family, take a minute to talk about what Be the Wall means and to discuss your household rules on underage drinking. Thanks to all of the owners and employees who helped Morgan students put stickers on mountains of boxes last week! The Task Force couldn’t be happier to have such energetic and supportive community partners.
We’d love to have all of you as supporters too. If you need a little convincing here are the facts:
- While data tell us that alcohol is the primary substance of choice for teens across the state and country, we also know that underage drinking is the single most preventable risky behavior among our teenagers.
- In Clinton, the 2010 Search Institute survey, Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors, reports that most teens are not drinking. However, of the 28% that report drinking in the last 30 days, 18% say they’ve gotten drunk once or more in the past two weeks.
- Current research indicates that the teen brain is still developing until the mid-20s. The introduction of alcohol, particularly in large quantities, may impair brain development. This stage of brain development also makes teens more impulsive and less likely to consider consequences of their behavior.
For all of the reasons mentioned above, the Task Force asks all adults to be firm, clear and consistent when talking with teens about not using alcohol. To get more info, and to see our PSA, visit our website. Continue to look for our street team this summer at the beach and at community events. Stop by and say "hi!" when you see us!
