Shandon High students launch campaign against underage drinking
Image from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Youth-led initiative challenges misconceptions about teen drinking habits
– Young people in Shandon High School Friday Night Live have launched a campaign to address underage drinking in San Luis Obispo County. The youth-led program builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engages students as community leaders, and creates resources to promote change on issues important to them.
Although underage drinking rates continue to decline, the California Healthy Kids Survey found that 4% of seventh graders, 10% of ninth graders, and 14% of 11th graders reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has shown that underage drinking can lead to impaired judgment, risky behaviors, interference with brain development, and an increased risk of substance use disorders in adulthood.
A common misconception that most young people engage in underage drinking is perpetuated by movies, television, music, and social media. These portrayals create a distorted image of youth behavior, making some students who choose not to drink feel isolated. Research indicates that social norms, or the behaviors and attitudes a group believes are acceptable, play a significant role in shaping individual choices.
In response, youth in Shandon High School Friday Night Live launched a multi-media campaign to challenge negative stereotypes about alcohol use among young people. The initiative promotes positive social norms by sharing posters, digital graphics, and public service announcements created by students about making healthy choices and living alcohol-free. The campaign seeks to inspire other teens to make informed decisions about their health and shift the broader narrative about youth and alcohol.
“I believe the social norms campaign is beneficial for our school because I feel that everyone is shown from an early age that a little bit of alcohol won’t hurt,” said Shandon High School Friday Night Live president. “It’s become a norm in today’s world that young teens drink. This campaign brings awareness to our community that underage drinking is extremely harmful and should never be overlooked.”
Throughout the year-long campaign, students will receive training on data collection, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership and advocacy skills. Shandon High School Friday Night Live is part of a statewide initiative that includes 45 chapters across California. The program receives support from the California Friday Night Live Partnership through funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Students will use environmental prevention strategies to educate their peers, neighbors, and local leaders on ways to reduce underage drinking access and mitigate the harms caused by alcohol use among young people.
Community members can support Shandon High School Friday Night Live and its campaign, which runs through September 2025, on Instagram at @Outlaws.fnl.
