Think Before You Let Them Drink campaign targets teenage binge drinkers

A campaign aimed at stopping adults in Metro Vancouver from buying alcohol for minors kicks off today and is focusing on the risks underage women face when binge drinking.

The eighth annual Think Before You Let Them Drink campaign is a partnership between Vancouver Coastal Health, West Vancouver Police and North Vancouver RCMP.

KerrieWatt, a prevention consultant andeducator withVancouver Coastal Health, says alcohol is still the number one drug of choice among young people andiswhat leads to the most accidents, injuries and death among them.

"Somewhere along the line an adult had to provide them," she said.

And once they get a hold of alcohol, Watt says, many young people drink themselves into a stupor.

"Especially young women under 14.We know they're binge drinking at a rate higher than their male peers," she said.

For underage girls, there are added risks.

"The most immediate threat is the risk of unwanted sexual activity," said Watt.

The most recentB.C. Adolescent Health Studyfound 37 per centof allunderage teens who had tried alcohol had drank heavily in the past month.