WELCOME
There’s a lot cooking in the adolescent brain.
Harmful substances like alcohol turn up the heat.
Our brains develop until about age 25. Studies show that the earlier youth drink, the more likely they are to have problems with alcohol as adults, and the more damage they do to key parts of their brains – including memory, learning, mood and mental health. By waiting until 21, a person reduces these risks by 70%!
A lot of other bad things can happen when youth drink, even if you take away the car keys. Falls, fights, sexual assaults, poisoning, and death are not worth the risk.
By creating environments that “turn down the heat” in their adolescent brains, we can prevent problems with substance use from boiling over or even starting to simmer. Parties are important for youth. Let’s keep them fun, safe and alcohol-free.
Penalties under Wisconsin law are expensive if you allow underage drinking* on property you control, including hotel rooms, cabins, or boats:
- Under the 2017 Wisconsin Social Host Law, if you provide a location for underage drinking to occur, or fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage drinking on property you control, citations range from $500 for the first offense to $10,000 for multiple offenses.
- Charges of up to $500 per underage person if you provide the drinks.
- Criminal penalties if a youth dies or suffers great harm.
Plus, if someone gets hurt or property is damaged, there may be lawsuits and costs that will not be covered by homeowner’s insurance.
* For minors that are not your own children or underage spouse.