With prom season and graduation nearing, the issue of underage drinking and its potentially deadly consequences are on the minds of many parents.
To help parents have “the talk” during April – National Alcohol Awareness Month – Anheuser-Busch has expanded its “Family Talk About Drinking” program to help parents begin and sustain meaningful conversations about underage drinking with children of all ages.
The campaign, developed by education, family counseling and alcohol treatment experts, was first introduced 20 years ago. It includes a parent guide and features the Family Talk Facebook page. There is also an online advertising campaign directing social media audiences to program resources, as well as activated outdoor billboard advertising in 56 cities across the United States, delivering messages about Family Talk and “Prevent. Don’t Provide,” which reminds adults to not purchase alcohol for minors.
Anheuser-Busch, a longtime supporter of the Tom Joyner Foundation, has sponsored the annual Fantastic Voyage scholarship cruise for more than a decade and introduced the Family Talk program on this year’s cruise.
“Awareness and education are keys to encouraging alcohol responsibility,” Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch said in a statement describing the program. “By working closely with our wholesalers to provide resources, training and tools to retailers and consumers, we help assure our beers are enjoyed responsibly by adults.”
The brewer works with wholesalers, retailers, educators, parents, law enforcement officials, professional sports teams and many other organizations, to reach adults across the United States with responsible drinking programs that focus on preventing drunk driving and underage drinking.
“Parents have a major influence on the decisions teens make about drinking,” said Casso. “That’s why April is a perfect time of year for parents to address the topic, as teenagers are getting ready to celebrate at proms and graduation parties.”
