Welcome to SC Out of Their Hands
Information to help parents and community members keep alcohol out of the hands of underage youth
Keep alcohol out of their hands this SUMMER!
Start the Conversation Early: Engage your children in discussions about the dangers of underage drinking. Regardless of their age, it's crucial to set clear expectations and boundaries regarding alcohol consumption. Open dialogues can help them navigate peer pressure and make safe choices during spring break festivities.
Supervise Vacation Gatherings: If hosting a party, ensure that alcoholic beverages are only available to adults. Lock away any alcohol not being served and frequently check in with younger guests to maintain a safe environment. This supervision can deter underage drinking and promote responsible behavior.
Encourage Alcohol-Free Alternatives: Highlight the fun of parties without alcohol. Provide a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and engaging activities that do not center around drinking. This approach helps teens enjoy celebrations while steering clear of alcohol.
Learn more from Jessica Gibson, director of prevention services at Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County, about the impacts of alcohol use in a recent upstate journal article.
“We just want to see people making healthy choices and thinking about the consequences of alcohol use and thinking kind of long term — and not just how it’s going to impact them, but how it can impact their family as well,” she said. “You’ve got things like domestic violence, child neglect, mental health issues and other things like that that can also affect your family.”
Newsworthy updates
"On April 1st, Orangeburg City Council gave unanimous final approval to an ordinance regulating the shops". Overall, this ordinance will impact future vape shop locations to promote better health and air quality for residents.
“This is a huge step in the right direction to improve the public health of our community especially for children and teens,” FIRE member and Edisto High School senior Kennedy Banks said. “We believe your willingness to address this issue will lead to less children getting involved in a life of substance use.”
Congratulations to the Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County Youth Board!!
They were awarded the Together SC 2025 - Community Volunteer Group of the Year.
Congratulations to this year's MADDY award winners!
Featured are two winners whose awards focus on working with youth and underage drinking prevention.
2024 Power of You(th) Award Winner: Mallory Stokes
2024 Outstanding Dedication to Underage Drinking Prevention by a SLED Alcohol Unit Agent: Special Agent II Karley Ford
Outstanding Alcohol Enforcement Team: 13th AET Circuit
News
Check out what's new on our Facebook feed!
JUNE 2025 Out of Their Hands Campaign will be rolled out to all 16 judicial circuits in the state of South Carolina. Keep an eye out for #SCOutOfTheirHands messaging in your community!
Does your community have a need for a underage drinking prevention training?
SC Alcohol Enforcement Teams offer trainings like:
- Public Safety Checkpoints
- Compliance Checks
- Mock Party Dispersal
- Shoulder Taps
-Bar Check/ Fake ID Sweep
- Saturation Patrols
- Source Investigations
- Environmental Scans
Alcohol Enforcement Team events in your area...
Head to the Contact tab if you would like to schedule a training in your county.