CITIZENS RALLYING FOR CHANGE ON ALCOHOL

Many cleverly packaged alcoholic drinks are winding up in the hands of teenagers.  It is getting tougher for parents and police to determine the difference from some of the marketing ploys alcohol companies are using.

They're always coming up with new and creative ways to market their products to try to get youth and adults.  For example, one looks like a stainless steel water bottle you can buy at any store. But if you look closer, it's vodka - and the label can be peeled right off.

Another bottle at first glance looks like a perfume bottle from the color of the liquid and packaging, but if you look at the bottom in little tiny letters, it's actually alcohol.

One even looks like a fire extinguisher with proper color and nozzle, but look closer and it's actually a bottle of vodka.

'Adult' chocolate milk, candies, alcoholic energy drinks, flasks that look like cell phones - the list goes on and on. Parents - as well as officers - need to get up to speed on what these packaging techniques look like.

Twenty percent of the alcohol consumed in America is by minors. Parent involvement is vital because it opens their eyes to what their kids see.

Those fighting to keep alcohol out of underage hands say it's a constant battle because the trends of today will be gone soon, and next year there will be a new trend that will vie for the attention of teenagers.