Story Published: May 21, 2008 at 9:17 AM PST
Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 7:28 PM PST
And that's the focus of the Kamiah group Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol."
“Mainly we come together and think of ways we can impact underage drinking, lower underage drinking rates in Kamiah and Kooskia," said Joyce McFarland, Student for Success Director.
McFarland admits it's no easy task to get alcohol out of the hands of minors, especially in an "everybody does it" culture.
"It's easy, when you have like-minded people working together. And then the difficulty is just how engrained it is in the community and if people really want to have change happen."
The groups take their ideas to Nez Perce Tribal officials to develop policies. Right now, they think the easiest way to get alcohol out of the hands of minors is to take it out of their view.
"To pass policies where alcohol isn't sold at events where young people can attend,” said McFarland. “So that they're not seeing modeling of adults drinking and thinking, well, that's what I have to do when I get older."
It's a small group, and McFarland admits its effect on the community is probably small as well, but the group says it hasn't hurt to sit down a talk about it.
"It's been effective as far as people that are committed to doing this, and for us to be in it for the long haul."
