NORRISTOWN – A public awareness campaign to prevent underage drinking was launched today. The initiative, called ‘We Don’t Serve Teens,”‘ was developed by the Federal Trade Commission and is designed to inform adults that providing underage drinkers with alcohol is unsafe, illegal and irresponsible.
Attorney General Tom Corbett joined representatives from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, State Police, and The Century Council to launch the public awareness campaign against underage drinking.
Today’s launch was held in conjunction with “We Don’t Serve Teens” week, a national effort aimed at educating adults on how youth obtain the alcohol they drink and how to discourage underage drinking not only during the back to school season, but also throught the year.
“Study after study suggests that youth who illegally drink alcohol obtain it from individuals they know,” Corbett said. “Those same studies reveal that kids cite their parents as the leading influence over their decision to drink – or not to drink alcohol.”
The Attorney General’s Office will be working with local and national partners to distribute “We Don’t Serve Teens” materials to make adults aware of the legal consequences associated with providing alcohol to people under 21.
The Century Council commissioned a suvey of 1,000 adults to determine parents’ perspective on the issue of adults providing alcohol to underage youth. The results show that, overwhelmingly, parents do not believe it is acceptable for other adults to provide alcohol to underage youth.
Ninety-six percent of adults said it is unacceptable for another parent or adult to provide alcohol to their teenager without their permission.
“We are unveiling the We Don’t Serve Teens campaign today to help prevent underage purchases and consumption of alcohol throught the year. The Century Council has found that 65% of youth say that they get the alcohol they drink from family and friends, meaning they get it from their parents, their friends’ parents, older siblings or family members or older friends, with or without permission. Turning a blind eye is as irresponsible as putting a drink in their hands,” said William Georges of the Century Council.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Capital Wine and Spirits will distribute point of purchase materials to retail stores across Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Attorney General’s radio public service announcements have been distributed statewide as a reminder to parents and other adults that providing alcohol to teens can mean serious consequences.
“When you talk, they really do listen. It is my hope this campaign will encourage parents to start and continue a dialogue with their teens about the dangers of underage drinking,” Corbett said.
Additional elements of the campaign include television and radio public servie announcements, print ads, lapel pins, register signs and posters.
The “We Don’t Serve Teens” campaign involves a coalition of public and private sector organizations brought together by the Federal Trade Commission, that includes The Century Council, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc., the U.S. Department of Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, the Responsible Retailing Forum, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc., the National Consumers League, and the American Beverage Licensees. Elements of the campaign include a television public service announcements, print ad, lapel pins, cold case stickers, register signs, and posters.
For more information on the campaign or to order materials visit here.