Best Responsible Consumption Program

n 2013 , the Alabama ABC Board developed the Under Age , Under Arrest program to bring awareness to and discourage underage and binge drinking . Geared towards middle school and high school students , the program is a 55-minute presentation that highlights the dangers and the legal , social and physical consequences of underage drinking .

“ With the assistance of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association , we developed our anti-underage drinking and binge drinking awareness and education program

by Krystina Skibo

– Under Age , Under Arrest ,” says Dean Argo , Manager of Government Relations & Communications , Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board . “ We partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving ( MADD ), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency ( State Troopers ), and the Alabama Citizens Action Project to ensure that middle , junior high and high school students received factual information about an issue that was plaguing schools all over Alabama .”

Since its inception , more than 200,000 Alabama middle , junior , and high school students have participated in Under Age , Under Arrest events . As of May 2023 , the program has presented more than 550 educational sessions and reached more than 225,000 Alabama students .

“ Underage drinking statistics have shown a decrease over the last few years ,” Argo says . “ We strongly believe that in Alabama , at least , the Alabama ABC Board ’ s Under Age , Under Arrest program is playing a role in that reduction . The real-world information , explanation about Alabama laws , and the consequences of breaking those laws can have , as well as the real-life account of a mother whose family and life was ripped apart because of a bad decision someone made , is having a positive impact in our state .”

The program opens with the ABC Board offering students an explanation of the problem and a few statistics to back up the need for a solution . The State Trooper typically explains the consequences of being arrested for consumption , possession and / or attempting to purchase alcohol , before allowing students to wear “ Drunk Goggles ” while performing routine tasks or a field sobriety test . The MADD volunteer then closes the program with her personal story of how she lost a loved one or was involved in an alcohol-related crash .

“ We have giveaways ( t-shirts , foam footballs , cups , pens , notebooks , screen cleaners and thumb drives , all with the Under Age , Under Arrest logo on them ), and we give each student a flier with additional information about underage drinking ,” Argo says . “ The students enjoy the goggle demonstration , but there usually isn ’ t a sound made or many dry eyes once the MADD volunteer speaks .”

During the first year , the Alabama ABC Board presented seven programs . What it lacked in actual program numbers , it gained through the educator ’ s network . Word quickly spread about the free 55-minute assembly-style program , and after the second year , an introductory letter went out to every middle , junior high and high school principal and counselor in the state .

“ I hand-signed every one of the 1,800 letters we mailed ,” Argo says . “ We used the letters to fully explain the program and highlight the fact that it is free , and that we would come present on a day and time that best fit their schedules . We ’ ve added more and more programs each year since . A large majority of our presentations are at schools where we have presented in the past .”

StateWays | www . stateways . com | Fall 2023 13