Alcohol and Tobacco Lesson goal

Alcohol and Tobacco

Lesson goal

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

To improve students’understanding of the seriousness of underage drinking and tobacco use, and penalties associated with violating Virginia laws prohibiting underage use of alcohol and tobacco.

Students will learn:

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

• That underage drinking is a serious health and safety threat to young people
• Virginia laws restricting underage alcohol possession and use
• Strategies for staying safe and sober
• Virginia laws restricting underage tobacco possession and use
• Penalties associated with violating the related laws

Health and safety risks, expense

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

• People tend to underestimate or minimize the dangers of underage drinking: Underage drinking is a serious threat to the health and safety of young people.
• The fallout from underage drinking is also very costly.
• Given the harm and expense caused by underage drinking, it’s not hard to understand why there are laws restricting alcohol use.

Refer to Lesson Handout “Underage Drinking: Dangerous and Expensive”

Good Samaritan Law

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause a life-threatening overdose. People may not call for vital medical help because they don’t want to get in trouble themselves.

But under the Good Samaritan Law, if a person:

• reports an overdose to a firefighter, EMS personnel or law enforcement (usually by calling 911)
• identifies themselves as the one reporting the overdose and
• cooperates with law enforcement

They are eligible for “affirmative defense” and may be protected from being convicted for certain possession or intoxication crimes. (Code of Virginia § 18.2-251.03)

Alcohol – definition

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

“Alcoholic beverages” under the law includes: