Awareness effort timed to prom and graduation season

Union County, Tenn. – 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% of respondents in the
latest Tennessee Together Student Survey say they have ever consumed alcohol, and only 7% 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 including {{INSERT name of coalition}}, 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.