The Berrien County Health Department Substance Use Disorder Prevention team is tackling the dangers of underage drinking.

The initiative will start this month, during Alcohol Awareness month, with the main goal of discouraging underage people from consuming alcohol.

Risks of underage drinking include poor school performance, mental health challenges, and other health issues later on.

The team also wants to make sure that high schoolers going to prom in the upcoming weeks don’t take part in underage drinking.

Lisa Peeples-Hurst, public health promotion and prevention supervisor says, “Talking with your child can help prepare them to make safe decisions in situations they are or will soon be experiencing.”