Now Available Online: Alcohol 101 Plus(TM) a Program to Stop the Misuse of Alcohol on College Campuses

Program Uses Effective Real Life Scenarios Impacting Freshmen, Athletes,

Greeks, and DUI Offenders

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Century Council announced today that its award winning, interactive Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) program designed to help college students make safe and responsible decisions about alcohol, is now available in a new online format at htt://www.alcohol101plus.org. For over a decade, The Century Council has assisted colleges and universities with innovative strategies for alcohol education. In its previous CD-ROM format, Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) materials have been distributed to over 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide.

Set on a virtual campus, this program features contents designed to address the problems of specific at-risk populations in college settings: freshmen, Greeks, student-athletes and judicial policy offenders. Each segment explores special issues and decisions regarding alcohol, for students in each of these groups. Through interactive video scenarios users have the opportunity to make virtual decisions for virtual characters. Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) is a safe environment which allows users to see the consequences of their decisions and offers the chance to try again -- unlike real life.

In addition to the original contents, Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) online features the B4Udrink tutorial which provides the user with the opportunity to learn important information about how alcohol can affect their body, friends, and campus life.

The program also offers educators the following complementary tools: online pre- and post- surveys for students, access to test results, and downloadable educational materials including a Facilitator's Guide with learning objectives and recommended activities for each content section of the program. In order to access these tools, educators can register, free of charge, at http://www.alcohol101plus.org.

Developed by The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Future Brands LLC; Hood River Distillers, Inc; and Sidney Frank Importing Co. Inc. Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) is available free of charge to all colleges and universities across the country.

"It is essential that every single college have access to this educational tool, designed to help students make safe and responsible decisions about alcohol. Now that The Century Council has made Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) available online and free of charge, it's entirely possible," said Susan Molinari, Chairman of The Century Council. "The fact that 85% of college students report consuming alcohol in the past year is a fact of college life that must be countered with effective education. By systematically incorporating this website in orientation programs, fraternity gatherings and athletic programs, we hope to have a significant influence on students' ability to make safe and responsible decisions about alcohol."

The creation of Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) brought about the broadest alcohol industry-government partnership designed to prevent the misuse of alcohol on college campuses including the U.S. Department of Education; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, more than 50 on-campus practitioners, student focus groups, as well as representatives from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network.

"College administrators across the nation state that confronting alcohol abuse is one of their top priorities. Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) is an important tool that helps to address this significant problem on campus. Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) helps campus leaders with cost-effective strategies to help shape behaviors in positive directions. This resource promotes dialog, engages students, and connects them to resources; further, through discussions using its companion Facilitator's Guide, numerous members of the campus community can join together to promote healthier campus environments," said David S. Anderson, Ph.D., Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Health, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University. "I hope college Presidents and other college administrators will embrace Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) and include it in their alcohol education efforts."

The Century Council's mission is to promote responsible decision-making regarding drinking or non-drinking of beverage alcohol and to discourage all forms of irresponsible consumption through education, communications, research, law enforcement, and other programs. Recognizing over fifteen years of progress, America's leading distillers have promoted The Council's mission by investing over $175 million in its programs to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. For more information about Alcohol 101 Plus (TM) or The Century Council, please visit http://www.alcohol101plus.org or http://www.centurycouncil.org.