Committee on Finance City Council Meeting, September 24, 2015 Alderman Brendan Reilly, 42nd Ward
Resolution
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF "WE DON'T SERVE TEENS," AN INITIATIVE BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, CONSTELLATION BRANDS BEER DIVISION, AND OTHER CHICAGO BUSINESSES TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING
Whereas, Every September, thousands of young Chicago residents enter new classes, make new friends, and advance on the path of learning in our middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities;
Whereas, The progress and future opportunities for our students can be halted or seriously diminished by poor performance in school, illnesses, injury, and even tragic death if they engage in illegal underage drinking;
Whereas, underage drinking has declined in the United States and is preventable through sustained efforts of parents, family members, educators, industry members, law enforcement, and concerned citizens;
Whereas, younger persons between the ages of 12 and 14 who experiment with alcohol are most likely to obtain it from their homes, the homes of friends, or from adult family members;
Whereas, recent research by the University of Illinois Chicago found that underage drinking can contribute to long-term behavioral changes that will adversely affect a young person's ability to thrive in their chosen professions, their personal relationships, and other key measures of success;
Whereas, the University of Illinois Chicago research is consistent with prior government studies and guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics showing that drinking early in a person's teenage years substantially increases the risk of lifetime substance abuse;
Whereas, We Don't Serve Teens is a research-based initiative of the Federal Trade Commission to educate adults on the basic facts about illegal underage drinking and remind them of the well-known risks of harm to the underage drinkers themselves and to the general public; and
Whereas, We Don't Serve Teens provides parents and ...
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