DRINKING -- STATE'S UNDEREAGE PROBLEM

The state has a problem. About 55 percent of Florida's 11- to 18-year- olds
have consumed alcohol in their lifetimes, and about 31 percent have
consumed a drink in the last 30 days.

The legal drinking age in Florida is 21. There is no law governing the
state's public universities that says binge drinking is illegal. The only
law pertaining to the University of North Florida's campus is the legal
drinking age, said Sharon Ashton, UNF spokeswoman.

In Minnesota and North Dakota, young adults are dying during "power hour,"
according to Newsweek magazine. Power hour is the hour that a 20- year-old
turns 21. It is an hour of binge drinking -- five or more drinks in one
sitting.

But binge drinking has decreased by 15 percent over the last four years in
Florida. It is underage drinking that concerns Florida officials.

Gov. Jeb Bush set a priority early in his first administration to reduce
alcohol and other drug uses in Florida's children. In a white paper called
"Changing Alcohol Norms: Florida's Initiative to Lower Youth Drinking," he
called for a 50 percent reduction in all drugs and a 20 percent reduction
in alcohol use by 2005. While other drugs have come down, alcohol usage has
only been reduced by 6 percent since 2000.

"Among the 21 different areas of abuse that we measure, alcohol use by
children is proving to be the most resistant," said Jim McDonough, director
of Florida's Office of Drug Control. "While our efforts to reduce binge
drinking have achieved somewhat greater success, both binge drinking and
alcohol use still remain at unacceptably high levels."

McDonough said the state has "redoubled" its efforts and is starting 28
local community coalitions throughout the state, as well as offering a
statewide education effort on alcohol use and binge drinking.

Florida has a problem and it is good to see action being taken. Local
government, non-profit agencies and parents should get involved in any and
all programs the state is offering. These are our children who are being
affected. They are worth the time, cost and effort.