Parents Empowered Month

January 9, 2013

State officials are taking a strong, unified stance against underage drinking and in support of the ParentsEmpowered campaign. To demonstrate this support, Governor Herbert and state leadership have declared January as ParentsEmpowered Month—a month to set clear rules and expectations about NO underage drinking. “The Parents Empowered campaign brings awareness to the problem of underage drinking, but ultimately it is the parents who must take the lead to keep alcohol away from their children,” Governor Gary R. Herbert said. “Each and every one of us play a vital role in reducing underage drinking. And this effort begins in the home.”

OFFICIAL DECLARATION

Whereas, the ParentsEmpowered Workgroup has designated January as ParentsEmpowered Month—a month to set clear rules and expectations about NO underage drinking;
Whereas, the teen brain goes through dynamic changes during adolescence and alcohol can seriously damage long- and short-term growth processes;
Whereas, findings from Utah’s Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey show a slight increase in binge drinking across all grade measures;
Whereas, 60 percent of kids get their alcohol from home without any parental permission;
Whereas, 40 percent of kids get their alcohol from home with parental permission;
Whereas, even a small amount of perceived parental acceptability can lead to underage drinking;
Whereas, Utahns are encouraged to set clear rules and expectations to keep alcohol away from Utah’s young children;
Now, therefore, I, Gary R. Herbert, Governor of the state of Utah, do hereby declare January 2013 as

PARENTSEMPOWERED MONTH