Village of Lancaster leaders are teaming up with addiction prevention advocates to raise awareness of the dangers linked to alcohol dependency.
Deputy Mayor Kenneth L. O'Brien III on Friday presented the Lancaster-Depew Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition a proclamation declaring April as Alcohol Awareness Month.
The Village Board and Mayor Paul Maute cited several statistics as reasons for taking the action, including youths beginning drinking, on average, at the age of 13.1 and about 100,000 people dying each year from alcohol-related causes, including drinking and driving.
"Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21," the proclamation states.