Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs and Sevier County CARES Join Statewide Underage Drinking Prevention Effort

Sevier County, Tennessee (March 19, 2026) - Sevier County is proud to join the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) in raising awareness of the dangers of underage drinking and the risks of providing alcohol to minors in the upcoming prom and graduation season.

Underage drinking might be considered a “rite of passage,” but state data show that a large majority of Tennessee high schoolers do not consume alcohol. Only 23% of respondents in the latest Tennessee Together Student Survey say they have ever consumed alcohol, and only 7% said they had consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. The student survey is statewide, and it asks Tennessee 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their perceptions of risk, access to, and consumption of various substances.

“Our message to kids this prom and graduation season is, you’re not alone if you don’t drink! Saying ‘No thanks’ to alcohol is actually what the vast majority of Tennessee students are doing,” said Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs and Sevier County CARES Director Nicole Ogle. “Choosing to celebrate special occasions sober allows people to create meaningful memories they can be proud of. These moments should be remembered for joy and connection, not regret.”

In Tennessee, providing alcohol to minors and underage consumption are Class A misdemeanors that can carry jail time and significant fines. Beyond the legal consequences, state officials emphasize that one night of poor decisions can have lifelong impacts. TABC encourages its licensees and clerks to verify age on every sale and refuse service when identification is questionable.

About Sevier County Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs and Sevier County C.A.R.E.S.
Serving Sevier County and its surrounding communities, the Sevier County Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs and Sevier County C.A.R.E.S. offer prevention education, overdose education, resources, and tools to help prevent substance misuse before it starts. Our work focuses on strengthening the community, reducing the impact of substance misuse on individuals and families, and connecting those in need of treatment and recovery services.

Through Substance Use Prevention Coalitions, including Sevier County C.A.R.E.S., TDMHSAS works with teens and families across much of the state, focusing on healthy, alcohol-free alternatives, the risks alcohol poses to developing brains, and the ways early misuse can contribute to a diagnosable substance use disorder.