Nevada Attorney General Promotes Alcohol Education Among High School Seniors Using 'Virtual' World of Alcohol 101(r)

2/26/2002

From: Leslie Mills of The Century Council, 202-637-0077 John Albrecht of Attorney General's Office, 775-688-1818 Tom Sargent, Public Information Officer, 775-684-1114

RENO, Nevada, Feb. 26 -- Today Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa announced more than 6,000 Alcohol 101(r) interactive CD-ROMs have been mailed to parents of graduating high school seniors in Nevada to provide students with additional tools necessary to make responsible decisions about beverage alcohol.

A copy of the CD-ROM was also delivered to each of the lead counselors at all Nevada high schools. The Alcohol 101(r) program was created by The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers, in collaboration with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A founding member of The Century Council, Guinness UDV, brought the Alcohol 101(r) CD-ROM to Attorney General Del Papa's attention.

"I know parents want to do all they can to prepare their sons and daughters for the challenges they will face as independent adults. Upon graduating from high school, the availability of beverage alcohol, the absence of parents, and the desire to fit in with new friends have the potential to bring about risky behaviors concerning beverage alcohol," said Attorney General Del Papa. "I am encouraged that Guinness UDV introduced me to the program and it is my hope that, by sending the Alcohol 101(r) program to graduating high school seniors and their parents, these young adults will have the tools to necessary to make responsible choices about drinking."

"I applaud Attorney General Del Papa's initiative that encourages parents to discuss alcohol with their children and to discourage their teens from using alcohol before the age of 21," said Jim Clerkin, president of West IMC, Guinness UDV North America. "I am confident that the fast-paced, sometimes humorous format of Alcohol 101(r) will appeal to Nevada graduating seniors and will allow them to explore issues related to alcohol misuse safely."

Alcohol 101(r) makes exciting use of interactive technology in a user-friendly, non-judgmental style. The "virtual reality" program demonstrates that not drinking is an acceptable choice and helps students understand the consequences of harmful drinking. Alcohol 101(r) prompts users to participate in several multiple choice exercises hosted by a talking lava lamp named "Norm" and learn about real-life campus tragedies involving alcohol misuse. Students can even go to "drink" at a virtual bar that, through a blood alcohol content (BAC) estimator, provides personalized information on the effects and BAC levels at different amounts of alcohol consumed.

After extensive survey and focus group work, over 13,000 students on 55 demonstration campuses and the U.S. Navy's Great Lakes Training Center tested Alcohol 101(r) throughout 1999 and students, facility and administrators gave the program high marks. The Century Council makes the program available at no cost to over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country.

"According to the annual Harvard University College Alcohol Study, while frequent binge drinkers make up only 21 percent of the college population, they account for 68 percent of the alcohol consumed on college campuses. That is a startling number and I hope that educational programs like The Century Council's Alcohol 101(r) CD-ROM will encourage students to make smart choices about alcohol," said Susan Molinari, Chairman of The Century Council.

Alcohol 101(r) is supported by three major national fraternity/sorority umbrella organizations: the National Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference and Professional Fraternity Association. It also has the support of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the BACCHUS & GAMMA Peer Education Network. All of these are working with their chapters to implement the program on hundreds of campuses.

National support within the academic community is further expanded through support from the American Council on Education, the American Counseling Association, the American College Personnel Association, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

"I want Nevada graduating seniors to get their post-high school lives off to a positive start. I encourage parents of graduating seniors to discuss the issues raised in Alcohol 101(r) with your teens and discourage your teens from using alcohol before he or she is 21," said Attorney General Del Papa.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is ranked among the nation's most distinguished teaching and research institutions. Its diverse, world-class programs reflect the mission of a comprehensive, land-grant university. The university is a world leader in computing design and applications, and home to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

The Century Council is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting drunk driving and illegal underage drinking. Founded in 1991, the Council is funded by America's leading distillers. The Council's website address is http://www.centurycouncil.org.

Diageo plc is a global company, trading in some 185 markets around the world. Diageo has a brand portfolio that includes Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Guinness, J&B, Baileys, Malibu and Cuervo. The recent acquisition of the Joseph E. Seagram Cos., has added Crown Royal, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Seagram's Seven Crown, Seagram's V.O., and Myers Original Dark Rum to its extended portfolio. Diageo is listed both on the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and on the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, its brands, people and performance, visit http://www.diageo.com.