Alcohol consumption in Wisconsin is endemic, and it extends to youth under age 21. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 49% of Wisconsin teens have tried alcohol. One in 6 Wisconsin high schoolers report having tried alcohol by age 13, and 2 out of 3 Wisconsin teens don’t see underage drinking as a risk. However, we know teens who drink can suffer real damage—exposing their developing brains, lives, and mental health to serious, even deadly, consequences.

Lots of commercials are popping up on tv right now encouraging parents to talk to their teens and even pre-teens about the dangers of underage drinking. Research shows age 8 is when children start to form their earliest opinions about alcohol. The best protection teens have against this dangerous substance is involved, intervening parents.