YOUTH ADDRESS ALCOHOL USE

By: Cheryl Goodenough

Imagine winning $10,000 for discussing your views on a particular issue. That's what the Brewers Association is giving youth a chance to do.

To drink or not to drink is a choice that every teen must deal with at some point in their lives. A lot of teens drink because their friends do it and it is a "cool" thing to do. Others drink because they just really enjoy it.

As a personal choice, I do not drink. The first time I was in an atmosphere where there was alcohol, I was 16. It was at a party and a lot of people I knew were getting drunk. It really bothered me to see how stupid these people were acting. It bothered me even more to see people drinking simply because they wanted to fit in. It was obvious from the gagging expressions on their faces that they were not enjoying the drinks at all. It made me wonder why a lot of young people find it so necessary to drink in order to have a good time.

Don't get me wrong, I have had a drink or two in my life, but, on the whole I just figure I don't really need it. If a person does make the choice to drink, it is essential that they are responsible about it. To me, responsible drinking means knowing when enough is enough. It means having a safe ride home before you begin to drink.

"Drinking responsibly is drinking to the point where you are still able to know what you are doing and function correctly and not do stupid stuff, like driving or wandering the streets and getting into fights," says Jeff, a 15-year-old from Mississauga.

Due to my strong feelings about alcohol consumption, I decided to enter a contest promoting responsible drinking, along with TG Youth Editor, Sarah Denham. The contest is titled "Stand Up, Speak Out, Be Heard." It is sponsored by the Brewers Association of Canada. The idea of the contest is to allow youth to write and put together advertisements promoting the safe use of alcohol. This contest is very worthwhile because it is youth speaking to youth. One youth sharing beliefs with another youth is a lot more beneficial than coming from an adult.

"We can relate more to people our own age. It doesn't seem like so much of a lecture coming from our peers, rather than our parents," agrees Elizabeth, an 18 year old student from Mississauga.

That is why I am entering this contest. I think it can make a difference (the large sum of cash prizes did help my decision a little bit!) There is nothing wrong with having a drink every now and then. However, it is important that a positive slogan for responsible drinking be available. This contest gives youth the opportunity to get the message out there. The Brewers Association of Canada, a major corporation, is allowing us, the youth of Canada to make a difference through the production of a major ad campaign.

"The Brewers Association knows that we want to hear something coming from our peers," says Amanda, an 18 year old OAC student from Mississauga.

Giving the message that they care about our well-being, while at the same time selling a few beers is a very smart campaign, I must admit. However, regardless of the Associations "ulterior motives," the contest is worthwhile. The voices of youth are the voices of the future.

"We had to find a message that would work with the young. Older people trying to develop messages for a younger group was just not working. We need a message that is relevent, so, we are becoming a vehicle for young people to talk to young people," explains Howard Collins, the Vice President of the Brewers Association of Canada.

As mentioned, the contest is taking place to promote responsible drinking. It is directed specifically at youth. Open to anyone living in Canada, the Brewers Association is asking youth to send in advertisement ideas promoting responsible drinking. Submissions can include anything that can be used in print format or for commercials (essays, videos, poems, posters, etc). The deadline for submissions is December 31, 1996. Through a panel of judges, the winners will be selected and up to $100,000 in prize money awarded. The winning submission will become a public advertisment for the Brewers Association of Canada.

"The winning submission will be produced and the winner will be involved in the production," Mr. Collins confirmed.

If you are interested in entering the contest, you can visit the Brewers Association website (http://www.brewers.ca/beheard.htm) and find out all the little details you will need (submission form, mailing address, etc).

So, there you have it. An opportunity to make a difference, have fun and win a large sum of money. It is important that as youths we take the initiative to promote a worthwhile issue. By entering this contest you could open a lot of eyes and save a lot of lives.