One Week Left to Enter the 'FREE the BOWL(TM) From Big Al' Video Contest at FreetheBowl.com

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The clock is running out for entries to the second annual FREE the BOWL(TM) video contest. January 26 is the last day for youth and young adults to submit 30 to 60 second ads that depict where they see the influence of "Big Al" (Big Alcohol) in their lives.

The contest is open for submissions from two age groups (10-20 and 21-25) to counter alcohol advertising during the Super Bowl. Marin Institute, the alcohol industry watchdog, launched the contest last year at FreeTheBowl.com.

"Big Alcohol's ads create an environment that promotes over-consumption among youth and adults," stated Michael Scippa, Marin Institute's advocacy director. "Day after day, year after year, people are bombarded and harmed by Big Alcohol. This year's contest asks for help identifying 'Big Al's' many faces, especially those that encourage underage drinking. We're challenging young filmmakers to show us what Big Al looks like, where they see Big Al, and how Big Alcohol harms them, their friends, and families."

Research estimates 85,000 American deaths are caused by alcohol consumption annually while economic costs exceed $220 billion. More than 10 million underage youth drink alcohol annually, while 7 million binge drink. As a result, 5,000 youth under age 21 die, while hundreds of thousands more young people suffer alcohol-fueled sexual assaults and other injuries.

Between 2001 and 2007, Big Alcohol (global beer, wine, and spirits companies) placed more than 2 million alcohol ads on TV. This year, foreign-based alcohol corporations will spend half a billion dollars advertising during TV sports programs alone. These programs have the largest youth ad viewing audience of any type of programming with alcohol ads. It's no secret Big Alcohol experiences its largest overall sales increase during the two-week period surrounding the Super Bowl.

FREE the BOWL(TM) From Big Al video contest winners will be announced February 4, 2010, at a premiere screening at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California. The event will be streamed live at FreeTheBowl.com.  Prizes include Apple MacBook Pros, iPod Docking Stations and Flip Mino HD Cameras.

Visit FreeTheBowl.com for complete details.

Contact: Michael Scippa 415/257-2490

Gilberto Leon 415/257-2495

SOURCE Marin Institute