| Trenton
– Attorney General Stuart Rabner and
Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director
Jerry Fischer today announced a new program
for high school seniors designed to increase
their awareness about the dangers of underage
drinking during the upcoming prom and graduation
season.
Entitled “Proms and Alcohol Don’t
Mix,” this innovative initiative asks
high school seniors to create scripts for
30-second television public service announcements.
The winning spot will be produced and distributed
to local television stations. The winning
school’s students will have a chance
to appear in the spot or assist in its production
or editing. A number of additional entries
will also be chosen as runner-ups. Students
who participate in developing the winning
entry and the runner-up entries will be
invited to a special party in their honor
at Drumthwacket, the Governor’s residence,
in Princeton.
“High
school proms and graduations are important
milestones in young peoples lives, and we
want seniors to celebrate safely,”
Attorney General Rabner said. “We
hope this project will help save precious
lives by causing our students to focus on
the dangers of underage drinking.”
“We
are grateful for the assistance of the Department
of Education and Commissioner Lucille Davy
in getting this project out to the schools,”
Rabner added.
The Attorney General According to the New
Jersey Department of Human Services’
2003 Household Survey on Drug Use and Health,
approximately 11 percent of young people
tried alcohol for the first time between
the ages of 12 and 14, while 31 percent
drank alcohol for the first time between
the ages of 15 and 17, and 31 percent used
alcohol for the first time between the ages
of 18 and 20.
Additionally, national reports, as well
as state surveys, indicate the critical
role parents must play in helping their
children stay free from the dangers of underage
alcohol use. The 2005 study by the National
Survey of American Attitudes on Substance
Abuse said that 80 percent of parents questioned
said their children did not attend parties
where alcohol and marijuana were available,
but half of the 17 year olds responding
said drinking and drug use do occur at house
parties.
ABC Director Fischer noted that this new
effort will provide one more tool in the
State’s fight against underage drinking.
“The
Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is
working to combat underage alcohol use on
many different fronts,” Director Fischer
said. “By using public education programs,
community awareness efforts and law enforcement
initiatives, we can create an environment
that keeps young people free from the tragedies
often associated with underage drinking.”
A letter was sent to all high school principals
this week, asking the schools to have their
senior students work together on teams to
develop the television scripts. The scripts
must reflect originality and creativity,
and must be easily produced. Details of
each “scene,” such as location,
time, and specific dialogue, must be included
in the entries.
Scripts must be submitted to the Division
of Alcoholic Beverage Control no later then
Friday, March 30. The winning entry will
be selected in April, and production will
begin immediately. Program criteria is available
on the Division’s website, at www.nj.gov/oag/abc.
>> AG
Rabner Contest Announcement Letter
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