(September 23, 2008) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Noting the dangers of underage drinking, Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-34) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA-45) praised House passage of H. Res. 1042, Supporting the We Don’t Serve Teens Campaign by voice vote today.  Bono Mack was joined by Roybal-Allard in introducing this resolution to commend the united efforts of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and industry and community partners to raise awareness for the importance of preventing underage access to alcohol. 

“I commend my California colleague Mary Bono Mack for her leadership in authoring this resolution, and for highlighting the public health crisis of underage drinking in our country,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said.  “Last Fall, I had the privilege of working with The Century Council and the Federal Trade Commission in bringing the ‘We Don’t Serve Teens’ Campaign to my Los Angeles district.  The campaign’s powerful message – that providing alcohol to any person under the age of 21 is unsafe, irresponsible, and illegal – needs to be constantly emphasized as one important element in the fight against underage drinking.”

“Underage drinking is a serious health problem facing communities throughout our nation,” said Bono Mack.  “Far too many teenagers engage in risky, even life-threatening behavior, because of the influence of alcohol.  By working together – as parents, educators, policy makers and community leaders – we can help reduce underage drinking and promote a healthier environment for our children.  I commend the FTC and their industry and community partners for their exemplary efforts on this very important issue.” 

Specifically, H. Res. 1042 supports the We Don’t Serve Teens campaign and commends the FTC and its partners on their commitment to ending underage drinking.  Created by the FTC, the We Don’t Serve Teens program unites members of industry, social groups, parents and policy makers in a common front against underage access to alcohol.  Working with industry and community partners, the FTC declared September 10-15 national We Don’t Serve Teens week to highlight the dangers of underage drinking and also created the website www.dontserveteens.gov. 

As part of the continuing We Don’t Serve Teens effort, alcohol producers, wholesalers and retailers have begun distributing point of sale materials to nearly 100,000 retailers across the country, displaying the We Don’t Serve Teens logo and message on 3,000 billboards, securing advertising in magazines and newspapers and airing advertisements on cable television and radio. 

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has a long history of leadership in the fight to stop underage drinking.  

She is the author of the STOP Underage Drinking Act (P.L. 109-422), which was signed into law in December of 2006.  The STOP Act makes permanent an Ad Council national media campaign directed at parents that started in 2005.  The measure coordinates all federal programs and research initiatives on underage drinking, and provides grants to institutions of higher education, states and non-profit organizations to combat underage drinking in communities. The STOP Act also supports crucial research on the health effects of underage drinking and requires the federal government to produce an annual status report on underage drinking in our country.

The congresswoman also hosted The Century Council’s Brandon Silveria Tells His Story and Tony’s Tips events at Downey High School in March and Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights in May.  During the school assemblies, Brandon Silveria and his father, Tony, spoke about the importance of “making the right choice” about alcohol.  For students who are under the age of 21, they emphasized that the only responsible decision is not to drink.  Brandon is a young man who was involved in an alcohol-related crash at age 17 just before his high school prom in his hometown of Los Gatos in Northern California.  The accident left him with a permanent brain injury.