The war against underage drinking was turned up a notch yesterday when officials announced a statewide "We Don't Serve Teens Week."

The event started Sunday and runs for a week, but it also kicks off a larger campaign that will last through October.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said radio voiceovers and animated TV commercials against underage drinking are being produced by local teens and will be airing soon. He also emphasized the consequences underage drinking can bring: Offenders - even if they aren't near a vehicle - can have their licenses revoked for six months or more.

Teens who are caught and do not have a driver's license can be prevented from gaining driving privileges until they are 17 no matter how young they are, Aiona said.

"Having your driving privileges revoked is a great deterrent," he said. "There are mandatory sentences a judge has to follow, and there are consequences. If you host a party and people under 21 are there engaging in alcohol consumption and cause damage, you can be prosecuted in civil court. There are penalties for buying for minors and serving to them."

Following yesterday's news conference, Kevin Schmidt of the Department of Defense said Hickam Air Force Base is one of four Air Force bases in the United States that is taking part in a three-year pilot program de-signed to curb underage drinking in the military. Air Force bases in California, Montana and Arizona also are taking part in the federally funded project.

"It's about working with nearby communities and on base to stop underage drinking and if it works it will be implemented at bases across the country," said Schmidt, who works with the DOD agency charged with enforcing underage drinking laws for military personnel. "The military has had a policy that defines alcohol use and abuse. It's something everyone should follow and we're going to get the word out."

The program centers on a 0-0-1-3 model.

"0-0-1-3," Schmidt said, stands for zero drinks if you are under the age of 21; zero DUIs; a maximum of one drink per hour; and a maximum of three drinks in one night.

Today's print edition of The Advertiser has a special insert provided by the state that tackles several issues involving underage drinking. The 12-page insert looks at the effect alcohol consumption has on the brain, how underage drinking increases the chance of becoming addicted or alcohol dependent as you grow older, and other risks.

Aiona yesterday urged parents to keep the insert handy and look at it daily as a reminder of the influence parents can have on whether their child drinks illegally. There is also a list of online resources that parents can turn to for help.

"Underage drinking is the No. 1 substance abuse problem for teens in Hawai'i," Aiona said. "Parents have ranked their influence on what their teen does as low, but teens say their biggest influence is their parents. What you do does have an impact.

"Everyone should read this special section and keep it somewhere close so that you can always refer to it."