Anheuser-Busch Helps Federal Trade Commission Deliver Underage Drinking Prevention Message

Brewer Secures Ad Space to Help Reinforce National 'We Don't Serve Teens' Campaign

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Sep 08, 2010, 12:26 ET

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's leading brewer has helped secure premium ad space for the Federal Trade Commission's "We Don't Serve Teens" campaign aimed at preventing underage drinking. Thanks to help from Anheuser-Busch's media group, millions of American adults will see campaign ads in national magazines, on popular websites and on billboards nationwide.

First launched in 2006, We Don't Serve Teens provides parents and other adults with tools and information to prevent underage drinking and its negative consequences. Detailed information about the program is available at www.DontServeTeens.gov.

"We applaud the Federal Trade Commission's We Don't Serve Teens campaign for drawing attention to the important role parents and other adults play in preventing youth access to alcohol," said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. "We want adults to see this message and take a stand against buying alcohol for teens or providing it to them at parties."

Research has consistently shown that parents and other adults are the primary source of alcohol for teens. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the majority (62 percent) of underage drinkers, ages 12 to 20, report getting their alcohol from adults, including parents, guardians, other family members or unrelated adults.

"Parents face peer pressure just like teens do. They may mistakenly think other parents are buying alcohol for their teens or allowing it at parties and feel pressure to do it, too," said Casso. "We want to encourage them to stand their ground, follow the law and just say 'no.'"

This year marks the fourth consecutive year Anheuser-Busch has supported the FTC's campaign. The company and its 600 wholesalers nationwide also implement a number of programs that complement the FTC's efforts, including "Family Talk About Drinking," which provides parents with tips on how to broach the subject with their teens; and "Prevent. Don't Provide," which reminds parents, older siblings and other adults to do their part in preventing underage drinking. Information about these programs can be found on the company's new Facebook page, called "Anheuser-Busch Family Talk About Drinking."

Anheuser-Busch has been at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking for nearly three decades. Since 1982, the company and its wholesalers have invested more than $830 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking and prevent underage drinking and drunk driving. For more information on these efforts and the progress being made, visit www.beeresponsible.com .

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch