Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson in mid-August helped launch a public awareness campaign designed to prevent underage drinking and discourage adults from providing alcohol to minors.

Joining Edmondson were Keith Burt, ABLE Commission; Chief Bill Citty, Oklahoma City Police Department; and Shannon Adams of The Century Council.

"Key to addressing the problem of underage drinking is having a sense for where youth obtain the alcohol they drink. In a recent survey commissioned by The Century Council, we asked teens, ‘Where do you get the alcohol that you drink?’ 65 percent of the youth surveyed said that they got the alcohol they drink from family and friends, meaning they got it from their parents, their friends’ parents, older siblings or family members or older friends, with or without permission," said Adams.

Edmonson has nothing but criticism for adults who provide alcohol to minors.

"It’s a crime for anyone under 21 to possess alcohol, and it’s a crime to provide alcohol to a minor. As a prosecutor, I’ve seen the effects of underage alcohol consumption, and I’ve also seen the crimes that can accompany it - drunk driving, vandalism and assault, just to name a few," Edmondson said. "The message for parents is simple - be your kid’s parent, not their bartender."

"In 2004, 33 youths under the age of 18 were arrested for driving under the influence, 40 youths were arrested for liquor law violations, and 50 youths were arrested for drunkenness in Oklahoma City."
—Chief Bill Citty, Oklahoma City Police Department

"Among 12-20 year olds, more than 30 percent reported past month alcohol consumption in Oklahoma. Clearly, more work needs to be done. Protecting the safety, particularly the safety of our city’s most precious resource — our young people — is a top priority for the commission,"
—Keith Burt, ABLE Commission