WSWA SUPPORTS UNDER-AGE ANTI-DRINKING CAMPAIGN

For the third year in a row, members of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America are distributing thousands of POS materials to retailers, free of charge, across the nation, as part of the “We Don’t Serve Teens” campaign, a public-private national initiative to combat increased underage drinking. The effort has resulted in a host of measurable successes: thus far, for 2OO9, over 25,OOO items have been distributed by some 4O WSWA member companies. Since the program began in 2OO7, nearly 13O,OOO POS materials have been distributed to retailers and resolutions praising the campaign were passed by the US House and Senate. The campaign is an acknowledgement that all three tiers of the beverage alcohol industry are united in an effort to protect America’s youth.

“Wholesalers recognize our crucial role within the beverage alcohol distribution system to make certain that our products are distributed and consumed responsibly and legally,” WSWA President Craig Wolf said. “We must make every effort to discourage teens from even attempting to purchase alcohol. At the same time, reducing underage drinking requires a cooperative effort on a community level through voices teens hear every day – parents, teachers, local leaders and the media.” Wolf noted that recent data from the US Government’s 2OO8 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed a continued steady decline in underage drinking illustrating the impact of programs like “We Don’t Serve Teens.”

More information about the campaign can be found at the FTC’s “We Don’t Serve Teens” web site at: www.dontserveteens.gov and at www.wswa.org. Additional materials can be ordered from bulkorder.ftc.gov.