CHILL: Communities Helping Improve Local Lives

Visit the Take It Back Website to learn more!

Take it back states that we as youth are tired of our communities revolving around alcohol. Hoping to be a youth of change we want to break the addiction. If you have already taken that first drink its okay...TAKE IT BACK! You can change if you're willing.

Take it back is not an organization, a program or a group- it's a dynamic movement that's focused on research and action.

CHILL has chosen to be a part of this national movement to focus attention on the youth and alcohol problems in our community. Because

It's Time
2 take it back.

Sometimes adults think its okay to buy alcohol for underage youth as long as they take the care keys. But taking the car keys won't stop them from unplanned or protected sex, drinking until they pass out or getting into a fight. If you want to keep kids safe, stop kidding yourself and stop providing.

Alcohol kills more kids than all illegal drugs combined
Take underage drinking seriously!

Our Community Alcohol Personality Survey

CHILL members took to the streets in January 2008 to survey the community of Martinsville and Henry County VA on the issue of alcohol and youth. We found that there were about 135 convenience stores in our community, 125 sell alcohol. We found almost NO signs stating the legal age to buy alcohol in any of the stores we visited. A local high school survey has revealed that many young teens do not know that 21 is the legal age to buy and possess any kind of alcohol. We also found that many of the stores were plastered with alcohol marketing items from stand up racing stars, floor and wall posters, blow up bottles and figures to baseball hats. Outside there are no signs because it is illegal in the state of Virginia to use outdoor advertising.
We also had a focus group which helped the CHILL membership decide what the top 3 problems are with underage drinking in our community...

Problems in Our Community through Our
"Alcohol Personality Survey"

• Drinking Parties: Kids having parties where their parents allow and/r provide the alcohol.
• Binge Drinking among teens to the point of passing out.
• Drinking and Driving

Contributing Factors

• Youth acceptance of underage drinking.
• Adult acceptance of underage drinking, and providing alcohol.
• Alcohol is easy to get, and is everywhere.
• Lack of enforcement of laws

What We're Doing/Going To Do:

• Work on limiting alcohol beverage industry sponsorship of public events.
• Obtain community sponsorship for alcohol-free activities for youth.
• Develop community support for enforcement of underage drinking laws through awareness campaigns.

• Continue to present media literacy and substance abuse prevention programs to area youth.

• Continue to support compliance check programs- A compliance check is a tool to identify alcohol establishments that are selling alcohol to you,
• Continue to do Project Sticker Shock to educate those over 21 not to provide alcohol for youth.
• Provide local stores with clings and signs referring to "Have to be 21 to Purchase" (Per Survey)

• Support sobriety checkpoints- City has received a grant from DMV to have more sobriety checkpoints.

We as CHILL members see that underage drinking is a problem for our peers and community. It costs each one of us financially, but most importantly, the young lives who are cut short costs all of us way more.
We are asking for our community's support -parents, educators, law enforcement and others-in reducing underage drinking and to realize the problems it can produce.
We are tired of the constant messages sent through the media that makes drinking look like the only way to have a good time. We believe we can CHILL sober!

What Parents Can Do:

• Stop providing alcohol for teens. It is Unsafe, Unhealthy and Illegal!
• Have a better understanding of the Alcohol Laws in Virginia.
• Talk to their children about underage drinking and keep communication lines open with youth and listen, listen, listen.

What Other Youth Can Do:

• Know the Virginia Alcohol Laws and the health risks so they will be aware of the laws and consequences of underage drinking.
• Choose friends who don't drink.
• Get involved in after school programs and activities.
• Set goals and don't let anyone keep you from making your dreams come true.

In other words, SOBER-CHILLIN'

Take It Back Friday Summer CHILLin Concert

Take It Back 5th Quarter Event

CHILL is grateful to The Harvest Foundation for the funding of Take It Back events in our community and schools.