Awareness effort timed to prom and graduation season

ICARE Union County is proud to join the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) in raising awareness of the dangers of underage drinking and the risks of providing alcohol to minors in the upcoming prom and graduation season.
Underage drinking might be considered a “rite of passage,” but state data actually show a large majority of Tennessee high schoolers do not consume alcohol. Only 23 percent of respondents in the latest Tennessee Together Student Survey say they have ever consumed alcohol, and only 7 percent said they had consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. The student survey is statewide, and it asks Tennessee 8th, 10th and 12th graders about their perceptions of risk, access to, and consumption of various substances.

“Our message to kids this prom and graduation season is, you’re not alone if you don’t drink! Saying ‘No thanks,’ to alcohol is actually what the vast majority of Tennessee students are doing,” said Rebecca Hughes, Executive Director of ICARE Union County. “When you choose to celebrate these milestones sober, you’ll be making life-long memories for all the right reasons instead of looking back with regret, or worse.”

In Tennessee, providing alcohol to minors and underage consumption are Class A misdemeanors that can carry jail time and significant fines. Beyond the legal consequences, state officials emphasize that one night of poor decisions can have lifelong impacts. TABC encourages its licensees and clerks to verify age on every sale and refuse service when identification is questionable.

ICARE is also supporting local prom season with targeted prevention efforts aimed at promoting safe and substance-free celebrations. A Prom Promise banner will be displayed, giving students the opportunity to pledge to make healthy, substance-free choices. In addition, ICARE is coordinating a guest speaker at the high school to engage students in a meaningful discussion about decision-making and the real-life consequences—both positive and negative—of the choices they make.
These efforts reinforce the importance of responsible behavior and support students in having a safe and memorable prom experience.

Through substance use prevention coalitions, TDMHSAS works with teens and families across much of the state, focusing on healthy, alcohol-free alternatives, the risks alcohol poses to developing brains, and the ways early misuse can contribute to a diagnosable substance use disorder.