Teen drinking is a community problem, but one KOTA territory organization says parents play a bigger role than you think.
The Monument Prevention Coalition's mission statement is that for teens, alcohol is illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable.
The coalition's been working with the community to try and help people better understand the reasons behind underage drinking and the consequences that come along.
Lanette Richards, Project Coordinator for the coalition says underage drinking is learned through adults.
Richards says if community leaders and parents are drinking or say they drank when they were younger, teens could see it as acceptable behavior.
"We find that we are an at risk county, and here in Scotts Bluff County, more than the state average are drinking as well as binge drinking."
Richards says the only way to expect change is for adults to set an example for their kids and to talk to them about the dangers of drinking.
