Whereas, alcohol is a factor in the four leading causes of death among persons ages 10-24: motor-vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide; and

Whereas, approximately 9.7 million current drinkers in the United States are between the ages of 12-20; and

Whereas, alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high-school seniors; and

Whereas, young people begin drinking, on average, at 13.1 years of age; and

Whereas, young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21; and

Whereas, alcohol abuse is linked to as many as two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students and is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases; and

Whereas, the typical American young person will see 100,000 beer commercials before he or she turns 18 (that is more than for sneakers, gum, and jeans); and Riverton City Council March 28, 2006 5

Whereas, 13 percent of all youth ages 12-17, had at least one serious problem related to drinking in the past year;

Now, Therefore, I Mayor William Applegarth do hereby proclaim that April 2006 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Riverton City. As Mayor of Riverton City, I also call upon all citizens, parents, governmental agencies, public and private institutions, business and schools in Riverton City, to support efforts that will encourage recovery throughout our community.