To address the issue of underage drinking, the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Prevention of Underage Drinking and the Augusta Partnership for Children held a meeting Tuesday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church. Panelists discussed the legal and physical consequences of underage drinking, what colleges are doing to stop it and what parents can do to prevent it.

Q: What is the typical age when a minor begins drinking and why do minors drink?

A: Dr. Eric Lewkowiez, assistant professor at Medical College of Georgia: "The age can vary. Over time, the age has gotten younger and younger. It was around high school age, and now it's down to around middle school age, around 12.

"There's a lot of different reasons: A big factor is peer pressure. They see other people doing it. They see older siblings doing it, and they think it's cool. Also, probably not so much for the younger aged, but older kids, if they're really anxious, sometimes they'll do what we call self-medicating and they try to use alcohol to lessen the anxiety."

Q: Most people do not consider college students as minors, but most are under the age of 21. In your opinion, what do you think are the attitudes of students in regard to drinking?

A: Tiara Chapman, Augusta State University student: "I feel that most students are adjusting to either living outside the home for the first time or adjusting to college life and sometimes, like Dr. (Lewkowiez) said, they self-medicate. For example, the Augusta State dorms, University Village. There are a lot of students who ... have a new level of freedom they haven't experienced before."

Q: If someone is accused of being a minor in possession, what type of crime is that and what is the punishment?

A: Juvenile court Judge Benjamin Allen: "In juvenile court, while it's criminal, we talk in terms of delinquency. What that means is that you could lose your freedom simply because you were in possession of alcohol, and heaven forbid that you were driving and charged with DUI. Then you run the risk of not only losing your freedom, but you run the risk of losing your license."

Q: What happens when the police are called to a party where alcohol is present and minors are drinking?

A: Investigator Blaise Dresser, Richmond County DUI Task Force: "Any child under 21 can be cited for minor in possession of alcohol (if found to be in possession of alcohol). Another thing that can happen is the owner of the residence can be cited for maintaining an unruly or disorderly house for allowing the party to go on and have minors drinking at the party."

-- Nikasha Dicks, staff writer