FCPS and Unified Prevention Coalition Combine Efforts to Prevent Underage Drinking

Fairfax County Public Schools will partner with the Unified Prevention Coalition this fall at high school stadiums across the county. 

New banners will be going up in stadiums that encourage parents and adults in the community to report underage drinking and parties where underage drinking is happening to the police.

The FCPS and UPC campaign encourages parents and adults to support alcohol free events. The banners were donated by UPC of Fairfax County as part of its Parents Who Host, Lose the Most campaign. 

According to a press release from FCPS, there has been a decline in reported alcohol use by high school seniros from 2005 to 2010.

The 2010-11 Fairfax County Youth Survey showed that 36.5 percent of high school seniors reported using alcohol in the past 30 days before taking the survey, and 20.5 percent reported binge drinking in the last two weeks before taking the survey. 

Those who report underage drinking can do so by calling the Herndon Police Department at 703-435-6846, or the Fairfax County Police department at 703-691-2131 for occurrences outside the town limits. Calls can be made anonymous.

Each of FCPS' high schools received a banner for its football stadium and gym, as well as Parents Who Host, Lose the Most fact cards that include information about underage drinking laws and penalties. Schools were also given posters for school offices frequented by parents, a poster on the risks of underage drinking to be posted in student areas, and a print advertisement for homecoming and football programs, as well as for school and booster club websites. 

UPC, a nonprofit group, partners with more than 50 organizations throughout the region to prevent violence, alcohol and drug use by youth and young adults.