Alcohol can damage the develoing brain. Full education launching soon
on the developmental process of the maturing brain.
Full Launch Look of Coalition 21 website soon.
Dr. Luis Cruz, Coalition Co-Chair educating students on the developing
brain and how alcohol can harm the brain under the age of 21.
We are educating the right way....
FACTS from Guam Substance Abuse Epidemiological Profile 2006:
Over 400% increase in Alcohol Related
Admission at Guam Mental Health
Over 300% increase in alcohol-related
juvenile arrests on Guam:
“GPD reports that in 2002, 5.8% of minors taken
into custody were for alcohol-related offenses.
This is an increase from previous years."
2005: “According to GPD, of minors taken into
custody for alcohol and drug violations in 2005,
49% were for alcohol-related offenses."
62.5% of murders on Guam in 2003 were alcohol related.
Over 96% of alcohol abusers began drinking under the age of 21
Alcohol is associated with the most violent of crimes...
Delaying the cosumption of alcohol until 21will decrease
one's risk for alcohol abuse later in life.
A drinkingof 21 is one aspect of an overall comprehensive strategy
to curb true underagedrinking and prevent future generations of alcohol abuse.
Jacqui was pinned in the front seat on the passenger side.
She was burned over 60%
of her body; no one thought she could survive. But Jacqui lived. Her hands were so
badly burned that her fingers had to be amputated. She lost her hair, her ears, her
nose, her left eyelid and much of her vision. She has had more than 50 operations
since the crash and has many more to go.
"Please Don't Drink and Drive." Click on photo to see video link.
YES! Additional Highway Funds
Age 21 is one of the criteria Click Here
Listen to Public Radio Comments During the 2002 Campaign by GHRA: MPEG4 Format
In 2002, Guam Hotel & Restaurant Associations president, Mr. David Tydingco was asked on public radio, whether raising the drinking age to 21 would affect economics. He stated, "If you look at the impact on the U.S. where they increased the drinking age from 18 to 21, from a business stand point there may have been a slight "blip" in the total revenue at the beginning, but over the long term, it didnt make a difference." Click Here
GHRA’s Chairman Mr. Bart Jackson in 2002 also stated, on public radio on Jon Anderson K57 show, “As Citizen Bart Jackson, I am not opposed to raising the drinking age to 21.” Click Here
Experts comment on New Zealand's Mistake Predictable
Lowering the Drinking Age to 18 Increased Car Crashes
Among Youth in New Zealand As reported in New Zealand News
Lowering the drinking age causes a dramatic increase in alcohol-related car crashes among young people, according to a new study based on data from New Zealand, where the government dropped the drinking age to 18 six years ago.
"There is no traffic safety policy with more evidence for its effectiveness than minimum legal drinking age laws," said Robert B. Voas, Ph.D., an author of the study. "Traffic crashes by young drivers were declining in New Zealand when that country decided to lower its drinking age. Thereafter, the overall road toll for those drivers rose dramatically. People in the United States who argue for lowering the drinking age should pay attention." Voas, a senior research scientist at PIRE Public Services Research Institute, has studied alcohol-related traffic issues for more than three decades.
The study, published in the January edition of the Journal of American Public Health Association, found that the rate of alcohol-related traffic crashes with injuries among males increased 12 percent for 18- to 19-year-olds and 14 percent among 15- to 17-year-olds in the four years before and after the law changed. For females, the rate increased 51 percent for 18- to 19-year-olds and 24 percent for 15- to 17-year-olds. The authors estimated that 400 serious injuries and 12 deaths a year among 15-19 year olds could be avoided in New Zealand by raising the drinking age.
"Most remarkable was the trickle-down effect that was seen in the 15- to 17-year-olds," Voas said. "Clearly, they're getting alcohol from older friends."
In New Zealand, road traffic crashes account for more than half of all fatalities and are second only to pregnancy as a cause of hospitalization for 15- to 19-year-olds, a pattern similar to that in the United States. Alcohol impairment is the largest contributing cause of serious traffic crashes in this age group, according to the study. Its also a major cause in the United States.
"During the 13 years I served as an officer in the Army, including four years on Guam, I can state from first-hand experience that alcohol use by those under 21 clearly has a negative impact on troop readiness. The military leadership recognizes that reasonably delaying the opportunity for legal consumption of alcohol by this impressionable age group, while aligning the legal drinking age with the vast majority of U.S. jurisdictions, is appropriate. Our local leaders should support efforts to promote responsible use of alcohol and deter abuse. Raising the drinking age on Guam to 21 years will surely aid in this effort and improve troop readiness. Those who argue that being able to die for your country at 18 should translate into an ability to buy alcohol fail to recognize that the ability to die and fight for our country is universal and not restricted to those on active duty...." Click here to read more....
Nathaniel B. Berg, M.D., is a local physician and former
Army doctor who was stationed at Naval Hospital Guam.
