Distilled Spirits Industry support ‘We Don’t Serve Teens Week’.

The distilled spirits industry and its media partners have joined together to support the Federal Trade Commission’s “We Don’t Serve Teens Week” underage drinking prevention campaign through thousands of donated public service announcements in national newspapers, consumer magazines, television and radio stations, billboards and professional sports stadiums, according to the Distilled
Spirits Council.

Timed to coincide with the back to school season, the FTC’s “We Don’t Serve Teens Week” is being launched today to spread the word that serving alcohol to teens is unsafe, illegal, and irresponsible.

“Companies, organizations and individuals have been energized nationwide to join us in getting this important message out to the public,” said Peter Cressy, Distilled Spirits Council president. “By working together in public and private partnerships, the spirits industry has helped to create a chorus across the country. Collectively, there will be millions of dollars of donated advertising space and time reminding adults that serving alcohol to teens is unsafe, illegal and irresponsible.”

Federal and state government leaders, state attorneys general, media organizations, community groups and America’s leading distillers are supporting this initiative by donating advertising space and time, running public service announcements and displaying and distributing free materials publicizing the FTC’s education campaign and resource materials on its website http://www.dontserveteens.gov>.

The education campaign is based on the research that most teens who drink obtain alcohol from social sources — including sneaking alcohol from their parents’ homes; having older friends buy it; or are obtaining it at parties. The campaign’s website provides information about teen drinking, how to reduce teens’ access to alcohol and practical tips for parents on talking to teens about alcohol.

The Distilled Spirits Council and its member companies reached out to their media partners to showcase the “We Don’t Serve Teens” message during the month of September. Through paid and donated space, public service messages for “We Don’t Serve Teens” will be seen and heard in large and small communities through national print, broadcast, electronic and outdoor media.