Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Members of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI) are distributing booklets that encourage open, honest communication between parents and their children about underage drinking. In partnership with Illinois Principals Association (IPA), distributors are delivering Talking to Teens About Drinking to Illinois schools.

In its eighth year, ABDI’s statewide campaign provides parents with information to discuss with their teens, ideas about role playing, explains the long-term dangers, and helps teens make the right choice about alcohol. IPA members are using the booklets during parent-teacher conferences, orientation, health class, and by coaches. “Since 2004, over 450,000 booklets in both English and Spanish have been provided to approximately 1,350 schools throughout the state,” said Bill Olson, ABDI’s president. “We are pleased that the program has been well received.

The IPA has encouraged its members to provide the booklet to both students and parents. “The booklet can be helpful to youth and parents when discussing the dangers of underage drinking with young people. It is an excellent example of how education leads to prevention,” said Jason Leahy, IPA’s executive director. “I think the booklet is an outstanding resource in numerous capacities.”

Cathryn Hartman Lydon with Hartman Beverage in Freeport, Ill.; Mike LaLoggia with Hayes Beer Distributing Co. in Rockford; and Mike LaMonica Jr. with LaMonica Beverages in Loves Park, Ill., delivered the booklets to area schools. They agreed: “We are local family-owned businesses, so we take the issue of preventing underage drinking very seriously. These are our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and neighbors that are confronted with making tough decisions on whether or not to drink alcohol as a teen. The peer pressure is enormous, which is why parents must discuss this issue with their children so they are prepared to make the right choice not to drink. Beer distributors are committed to seeing that alcohol is only consumed legally by adults.”

Joseph E. Loffredo, MSW, Community District 117, said: “The booklet seems to be a great resource and is put together well. Our health teachers are using the booklet and incorporating lessons which require students to discuss the chapter with their parents.” “Our parents should find the information simple and hopefully productive.”

The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, a not-for-profit business trade association, represents, maintains and improves the interests of its members who distribute beer of all brewers. ABDI advocates value in the state-based regulatory system by being the unified voice for beer distributors on legislation and regulation, by promoting responsible beer consumption, and by providing educational and other services to meet its members’ needs. Distributors are licensed by the State of Illinois to import and distribute beer to licensed retailers.

For more information about ABDI, visit www.abdi.org ^[1].

From the Jan. 18-24, 2012, issue