MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Gollott, Hall, Kirby, Johnson (19th), Harden, White (29th), Woodfield

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE APRIL AS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH IN MISSISSIPPI AND INVITE ALL MISSISSIPPIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ALCOHOL-FREE WEEKEND APRIL 2-4, 1999.

WHEREAS, the month of April is hereby designated as Alcohol Awareness Month in Mississippi, and all Mississippians are invited to participate in an Alcohol-Free Weekend April 2-4, 1999; and

WHEREAS, alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disease characterized by tolerance and physical dependency or pathological organ changes, or both, which are the direct or indirect consequences of the alcohol ingested; and

WHEREAS, underage drinking is the number one drug problem among the nation's youth; and

WHEREAS, binge drinking in high school is strongly predictive of binge drinking in college; and

WHEREAS, binge drinking among high school seniors has steadily increased over the past five years; and

WHEREAS, binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row at one sitting for boys, and four or more in a row for girls; and

WHEREAS, binge drinking, which can lead to fatal injury and alcohol poisoning, is widely recognized as the most serious problem facing college campuses today; and

WHEREAS, 43% of college students say they are binge drinkers and 21% say they binge frequently; and

WHEREAS, 80% of students who live on college campuses but who do not binge drink report that they have experienced at least one second-hand effect of binge drinking, such as being the victim of an assault or an unwanted sexual advance, having property vandalized, or having sleep or study interrupted:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate April as Alcohol Awareness Month in Mississippi and invite all Mississippians to participate in an Alcohol-Free Weekend April 2-4, 1999.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Central Mississippi, Incorporated is hereby commended for outstanding contributions in promoting public awareness of alcoholism and related problems.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Central Mississippi, Incorporated, and the Capitol Press Corps.