IMPORTANT NEWS...
Video Contest Winners Share "Why Not?" to Drink Alcohol Underage this Spring Break
March 11, 2009
TALLAHASSEE—Generation Y’ers from near and far submitted videos for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s 2009 “Why Not?” Spring Break Video Contest. At a press conference today, Secretary Charles W. Drago, along with partners and prize sponsors, announced the three winning videos that best share the message of why not to drink underage this spring break. No taxpayer or licensee money was spent on this campaign, and the winning videos are featured on the DBPR Web site at MyFloridaLicense.com.
The DBPR “Why Not?” Florida Retail Federation First Place Winner is Brandon Gainforth, a student at West Ottawa High School in Holland, Mich. The DBPR “Why Not?” Charmer Sunbelt Group Second Place Winners are Andrea Likens and Kiersten Lampe, students at Deltona High School in Deltona, Fla. The Tri-Eagle Sales Third Place Winners are Paul Murphy, Dylan Parker, Caitlyn Chrisco and Will Harvey, students at Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, Fla.
“I am proud of these winners’ hard work and courage in sharing why they choose not to drink this spring break,” stated Secretary Charles W. Drago. “It was an honor to stand beside such talented and creative people with the common goal of preventing underage drinking.”
The “Why Not?” video contest provides a peer-to-peer platform for underage youth, ages 14 to 20, to address underage drinking during spring break. Teens could submit 30-second videos on why they choose not to make alcohol a part of spring break plans. Using YouTube.com and SchoolTube.com, the initiative was intended to use current technology and facilitate peer-to-peer communication as a part of the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’s education and prevention efforts.
The contest would not have been possible without partnerships with SchoolTube.com, which provided a national resource to promote the contest at no cost, and the Department of Education, which reached out to educators throughout the state to share the contest with students. Prize sponsors also played a key role in providing an extra incentive to contestants by providing Best Buy gift cards.
The mission of the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries. ABT is housed within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The original files of the videos are available upon request, and winners are available for interviews. For assistance, please contact Communications Director Jenn Meale at 850-922-8981.
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