IMPORTANT NEWS...
Video Contest Winners Share “Why Not?” to Make Alcohol Part of Spring Break Plans
March 17, 2010
TALLAHASSEE—Today, Interim Secretary Charlie Liem, along with partners and prize sponsors, announced the five winning videos that best share the message of why not to drink underage this spring break. More than 60 college and high school students from Florida and across the country participated in the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s “Why Not?” Spring Break Video Contest. To view the winning videos, visit MyFloridaLicense.com and navigate to the “Why Not?” page.
The winners of the 2010 DBPR “Why Not?” Video Contest are:
o Cody Smucker from Orrville, Ohio, a student at Ohio State University;
o Jon Duckworth from Colorado Springs, Colo., a student at Colorado State University; and
o Zach King, Michael McClain, Brandon Segraves and Joe McKay from La Mirada, Calif., students at Biola University.
o Danielle Alvarez, Aubrey Kohler, Cody Appleby and Daren Mahoney from Deltona, Fla., students at Deltona High School;
o Hailey Mears, Hilary Mears, Kyla Kott and Stephan Michener from Loxahatchee, Fla., students at Seminole Ridge High School;
Contest winners received $1,000 Best Buy gift cards to continue enhancing their video production skills. Prizes were made possible by The Florida Retail Federation, The Charmer Sunbelt Group, The Miami Beach Coalition, Tri-Eagle Sales, and The Beer Industry of Florida. No taxpayer or licensee money was spent on this campaign.
“I was impressed with the quality and messages of the videos this year,” said Interim Secretary Charlie Liem. “I applaud their courage for sharing why they choose not to make alcohol part of their spring break plans.”
The “Why Not?” Spring Break Video Contest harnesses the power of peer-to-peer communication and uses social networking sites, such as YouTube.com and SchoolTube.com, for submissions. The contest encourages 14- to 20-year-olds to submit 30-second videos on why they choose not to drink alcohol underage during spring break. The “Why Not?” winning videos were selected by a panel of judges, representing: the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Governor’s Office of Drug Control, the Department of Education, Florida State University and Tri-Eagle Sales.
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.
Original files of the videos are available upon request, and winners are available for interviews. For assistance, please contact 850-922-8981.