 What
is ZERO, NADA, NONE?
The citizens of Arizona are united in their
concerns to address the problem of underage consumption
of alcohol. Underage consumption is one of the
most critical issues our young people face. We
can combat it by forming an alliance that delivers and enforces a consistent and repeated zero-tolerance
message.
The environments in which our
young people live feature mixed messages about the
rules and risks of underage drinking. These contradictory messages
are communicated through words, pictures, actions and
in the end, kids are often led
to believe that a little
drinking is okay, fairly harmless, and an actual "right
of passage". These mixed messages come from everywhere:
family, friends, businesses, media, and law enforcement.
In order to counteract this message all community
members must work together
to craft, deliver, and enforce
the message of Zero, Nada, None.
Why do we need Zero, Nada, None in Arizona*?
- 78.4% of students reported
having had a drank alcohol at some point during
their life.
- 29.8% of students reported
having their first drink of alcohol before the
age of 13.
- 50.9% of students reported
drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
- 33.6% of students reported
having 5 or more drinks in a short period of time
(binge drinking) in the past 30 days.
- 28.1% of students reported being offered, sold,
or give an illegal drug on school property in the
last 12 months.
The Zero, Nada, None - Under 21 is a plan to unite
the following five groups to deter underage drinking:
Parents, Students, Schools, Law Enforcement, and Licensed
Beverage Outlets.
ZNN Roles:
Parents -
We will not condone ANY underage consumption in the
home. We will monitor
and secure all alcohol beverages in the home and make
sure it is not available or provided to ANY underage
person. We will notify neighborhood members when
children under the age of 21 are left home alone for
extended periods of time.
Students -
We will not consume under the age of 21. We
will communicate the Zero, NADA, None message to
our peers and to our siblings.
Schools -
We will immediately suspend any student under the
age of 21 who is on campus with alcohol in their
possesion, or in their body, and
fully investigate any claim made about a student consuming
alcohol. We will provide continuing education
and prevention materials regarding underage consumption. We
will also report to the proper authorities any information
obtained regarding off-campus availability of alcohol. We
will provide all the support available within the school
for students and families who have problems with underage
consumption.
Law Enforcement -
Clearly communicate all laws pertaining to underage
consumption. Consistently
enforce all A.R.S. Title 4 alcohol laws with a zero
tolerance attitude. Interact with the community
to provide education and prevention tools.
Licensed Beverage Outlets -
We will ID all persons purchasing alcohol. We will
include employee termination clauses that feature immediate
termination for the sale or allowance of underage consumption. We
will comply with all state and federal laws regarding
the purchase and consumption of alcohol. We will
post information about the dangers and penalties of
underage consumption and display the Zero, Nada, None
- Under 21 logo in alcohol sales areas.
Remember parents....
- Communicate with your kids about the dangers
of underage drinking.
- Set and Enforce a Zero-Tolerance rule
in your house.
- Report suspicious house parties in your neigborhood
to police and
insist they send an officer.
- Talk to your neighbors
and other parents about the ZNN21 program.
The ZNN21 race team is available,
at no-charge, to
Arizona schools, both public and private, for alcohol
awareness presentations. The race team is also
available, on a no-charge basis, for community or corporate
safety events. The ZNN21 Race program
is funded by the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway
Safety, AZ SADD, Motorola, 3 Alarm Design, Driving
MBA, and RedHawk Graphics. |
