Public Policy
Life Savers, here we come!
The Century Council is pleased to be attending the 2010 Lifesavers Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Lifesavers is the premier national highway safety meeting in the United States dedicated to reducing the tragic toll of deaths and injuries on our nation's roadways. Each year, the Lifesavers Conference provides a forum that delivers relevant and timely common-sense solutions to today's critical highway safety problems.
The conference addresses a wide range of safety topics, from child passenger safety and occupant protection to roadway and vehicle safety and technology. It offers the latest information on advances in highway safety, highlights successful programs and draws attention to emerging safety issues.
We always learn something new at the Lifesavers Conference, and we’re looking forward to going. Let us know if you’re heading too!
Underage drinking, still a problem
New statistics on underage drinking are in.
Nearly 28% of American youth aged 12-20 reported consuming alcohol in the past month, according to data released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, reflecting a relatively stagnant trend in underage drinking nationally. Rates were lowest in Utah (13.7%,) with North Dakota and Vermont at the top of the list (40.6 and 40.4, respectively.)
Of this 28%, only 9% reported buying the alcohol themselves the last time they drank. This in itself is heartening. Our Cops In Shops program, now in 49 states, focuses specifically on making it difficult for underage drinkers to acquire alcohol. We think this program has been pretty successful. However, the relatively small number of underage purchasers of alcohol this points to the need for stronger, more sensible social host laws to prevent teens from getting alcohol from parties or parents.
Alaska and New Mexico had the lowest rates of self-purchase, at 3.1 and 3.7%, respectively. This rate was highest in Louisiana and the District of Columbia, both at 18.8%.
While we’re disappointed by the lack of movement in these numbers, we’re seeing a lot of progress in some states. We’re going to keep working to ensure that the numbers keep dropping.
Century Council tapes PSAs with State Attorneys General and Dara Torres!
Today, The Century Council teamed up with Dara Torres, five-time Olympian and winner of 12 Olympic medals in swimming, and 23 State Attorneys General to encourage kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. This is the sixth year that State Attorneys General have taped educational PSAs with The Century Council. The PSAs will be aired during April, Alcohol Awareness Month, and will raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. Also timed for Alcohol Awareness Month, we will distribute The Century Council’s new Ask, Listen, Learn interactive educational activity in states across the nation.
Ask Listen Learn visits Stratford w/ Rep. DeLauro!
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro made an appearance on Monday with The Century Council's Ask Listen Learn program on Monday. We think it's great when representatives speak to kids in their districts about saying yes to a healthy lifestyle and no to underage drinking.
She appeared at Harry B. Flood Middle School, in Stratford, CT. Waiting for her was an enthusiastic group of middle-school students. Check out the pictures below!
We'd like to thank Rep. DeLauro for her service, and Flood Middle School for their wonderful students!
Safer roads for everyone - The Roads Safe Act of 2010
In 2006, The Century Council committed its support for the exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving. The Century Council believes that development of technology to prevent drunk driving holds great promise if it is moderately priced, absolutely reliable, set at the legal BAC limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and unobtrusive to the sober driver.
We are pleased to reaffirm this longstanding support by supporting The Roads Safe Act of 2010, introduced today by Senator Tom Udall (DNM) and co-sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). This legislation would significantly increase Federal funding for the ongoing exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving led by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the auto industry.
The Century Council is proud of its nearly 20 year commitment to fighting drunk driving and our many partnerships with groups like AAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the National District Attorneys Association, among others. Through these efforts we have worked to reduce drunk driving especially among repeat offenders and people who drive at high BAC levels of .15% or above. For these drivers, The Century Council also favors tiered systems that mandate more severe penalties, treatment, and aftercare.
We applaud the leadership of Senator Udall and Senator Corker in working to develop technology that would prevent people from driving drunk and save thousands of lives each year. Click here to learn more about the Roads Safe Act of 2010.
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's New Ask, Listen, Learn PSA
Yesterday, we made our way to Florida to talk with Boys and Girls Clubbers in Miami. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and The Century Council's Chairwoman, Susan Molinari talked to the kids about the importance of saying YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking. The Congresswoman taped a public service announcement in both Spanish and English which will air in the Miami area encouraging parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking.
For more information, visit the parent's section of our Ask, Listen, Learn website.