News : Have a safe Graduation Party

Remember those school-spirited signs from last year? The Benton County Above the Influence Coalition has brought them back again this year, and it is our goal to cover Benton County with a message against underage drinking.

While the yard sign campaign is a great visual way to spread the message about preventing underage drinking, it’s also a great way to get parents thinking about the behavior that is being modeled for their children.

It’s very important to remember that sometimes the non-verbal messages you send youth are more impactful than any words you could say. For instance, if a child grows up in a household where, from a very young age, they see their parent’s parties involve alcohol, youth begin to associate alcohol with the fun of having a party. As adults, we know that a beer or two may have its place at parties, it’s hard for youth to tell the difference between “just enough” and “too much”.

This year, think about the messages you want the youth of your community to see, not just what you want them to hear.