Family Talk About Drinking: Conversations Every Parent Should Have With Their Teen This Prom and Graduation Season

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Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7804551-family-talk-about-drinking/

Created by certified parent coach MJ Corcoran and Anheuser-Busch, Family Talk About Drinking is a free, comprehensive online resource that gives parents the knowledge, confidence and tools to talk to their kids about alcohol throughout their child's life.

This year, Anheuser-Busch partnered with the world's leading comedy theatre enterprise, The Second City, to create compelling videos and help drive discussions about having important conversations with teenagers about drinking and making responsible choices. The 80's themed throwback videos take parents back to when they were teenagers, and encourage parents to stay connected with their teens and help them be ready to make smart decisions. Each scenario plays out different effects of making unsound decisions, but each have one message: be sure to talk with your teens about underage drinking. See videos here.

"Our number one goal is to arm parents with educational information and content that helps fuel open and honest conversations with their teens about underage drinking," said VP of Corporate Social Responsibility for Better World for Anheuser-Busch Katja Zastrow. "We are taking a different approach to simplify our messaging and help drive conversations with parents and teenagers – using comedy and humor to break the ice about a serious topic."

Parents can underestimate the influence they have on their kids' choices around alcohol. According to a GfK Roper Youth Report, parents remain the number one influence when it comes to their children's decisions on whether or not to drink alcohol underage, over advertising. Parents should be aware of and take confidence in their influence and use it to talk with their children on this important topic.

Certified parent coach, MJ Corcoran provides three ways parents can help ensure teens are safe throughout prom and graduation season.

1. Take advantage of resources your school has to offer. Schools are committed to keeping students safe, and they have years of experience managing teens during prom and graduation season.  Be proactive – inquire and take advantage of any programs and information available.
2. Don't be afraid to get involved. While schools are well equipped to handle safety and responsibility, parents should not rely 100 percent on school staff alone. Be part of the planning process so you know what's going on from start to finish.
3. Reiterate expectations. Special occasions are not a reason to lower your expectations regarding underage drinking. Start conversations early to make sure your teens have a clear understanding well before the event date arrives. Listen to your teens and let them voice their thoughts and concerns before, during and after the events.

Visit the Family Talk About Drinking YouTube channel to watch the short videos, and the website to learn about the parent guide to get tips on how to begin these important conversations with the teens in your life. Additional Family Talk About Drinking online resources can be found on the organization's website and owned social channels listed below. Please share the tips and short videos to be part of the community that helps to prevent underage drinking.

• www.Familytalkaboutdrinking.com  
• https://www.facebook.com/ABFamilyTalk/  
• https://twitter.com/ABFamilyTalk   
• https://www.pinterest.com/abfamilytalk/

About Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch and its employees build on a legacy of corporate social responsibility by focusing on three key areas: promoting alcohol responsibility, preserving and protecting the environment and supporting local communities. In the past three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have invested more than $1 billion in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to encourage responsible drinking and prevent underage drinking and drunk driving. Anheuser-Busch reduced total water use at its breweries 32 percent over the last 5 years and by 45.5 percent over the last 10 years. The company has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. Since 1997, Anheuser-Busch and its Foundation have invested in local communities through donations of more than $530 million to charitable organizations. The company also has provided more than 72 million cans of emergency drinking water to people impacted by natural and other disasters since 1988. Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch, the leading American brewer, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

For additional information: 
Amanda Greenfield 
Zeno Group 
212-299-8957 / [email protected]  

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch

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