Kids Get Booze from Family, Friends

Most underage drinkers get their alcohol from family and friends according to a recent survey commissioned by The Century Council, which is funded by alcohol distillers. The survey indicated only seven percent purchase alcohol themselves illegally from retailers.

Based on the recent survey data stating that 65 pecent of youth who drink obtain alcohol from their family and friends, The Century Council, working with the America Beverage Licensees, created a new campaign that highlights the point of access to alcohol by underage youth and encourages parents to play a more active role in keeping alcohol out of the hands of our nation's youth.

The key component to the campaign is a 30 second television Public Service Announcement, buttons and informational cards that provide tips in English and Spanish for parents on how to talk with their kids about alcohol that will be distributed at the point of purchase.

"I was startled to learn that so many kids get alcohol from family and friends. The good news is that survey after survey shows that kids identify parents, overwhelmingly, as the leading influence in their decision not to drink at all or not to drink at an occasion (i.e. senior prom). Parents should be encouraged by this news. It means their kids are listening. Parents now need to be empowered by this information and continue to talk with their kids about the dangers of underage drinking, " said Tom Farrell, Superintendent of Schools, Maine School Administrative District No. 71.

"While it is extremely important to discourage underage sales, kids get alcohol from many sources, and they can be very creative about obtaining alcohol. But we are not here to point fingers. Parents, retail establishments, community groups - we all have a role to play in the fight against underage drinking," said Harry Wiles, Executive Director, American Beverage Licensees, America's Beer, Wine and Spirits Retailers. We will be working aggressively during the back to school season and throughout the entire year to keep alcohol out of the hands of our nation's youth. Producers, wholesalers, retailers - all of us - need to play a role in the fight against underage drinking to lower, and hopefully eliminate, underage drinking.

In advance of students heading back to school, The Century Council will launch media events and distribute the new public service announcement in six markets nationwide: Baltimore, MD; Cincinnati, OH; Dallas, TX; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; and Tampa, FL. The Council will continue to roll out the campaign throughout the rest of the country during the rest of the year and 2004.

The Council plans to make the new materials available to ABL's membership that includes over 20,000 retail outlets. ABL members across the country will provide informational tip cards to parents on how to have an effective conversation about alcohol with their kids.

Source: Century Council News Release