Benton Academy student Alex Chandler and Yazoo City High School Student Johnese Clark place stickers on beer packages reminding adults that it is a crime to purchase alcohol for minors Tuesday morning at Mayfield’s as part of an effort by the Gateway MAP Coalition. Photo by Jason PattersonSpecial to The Herald

Many Yazoo County parents, professionals and youth feel that there is a problem with underage drinking in our community.
And according to information quoted by the Youth Leadership Institute, national statistics show that one-third of high school students reported have ridden with a driver who had been drinking at least once within the last 30 days, and approximately one third of all deaths among 15-24 year olds are from traffic accidents that involved alcohol. Data also shows that 38 percent of adolescent and adult suicide victims test positive for alcohol and that individuals who drink alcohol prior to the legal drinking age are 300 times more likely to become alcohol dependent adults. -------for the rest of the story see The Yazoo Herald printed edition or subscribe to the Digital Edition.----------