MultiVu Video: Two-Thirds of Teens Have Made Bad Decisions Linked to Underage Drinking; Girls More Likely to Suffer Related Social Consequences

NEW YORK, April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- STORY SUMMARY: Ninety-seven percent of American teen girls (ages 15-17) agree that underage drinking is not worth the adverse consequences it can cause. Yet two-thirds (68%) of American teens (boys and girls) admit they -- or someone they know -- have made regrettable decisions linked to drinking, according to a new survey from The Century Council, a Washington-based group, which fights unlawful underage drinking. The nationwide survey, conducted by KRC Research, examined a wide range of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of 500 boys and girls ages 12-17. Key survey findings include:

    Gender Matters:
    -- Teen boys (67%) and girls (76%) believe that girls have "more to lose"
       when under the influence of alcohol.
    -- More boys are most concerned with not being able to participate in
       school sports or clubs as a result of drinking (15%) compared to girls
       (4%). Eleven percent of older teen boys and girls (15-17) are most
       concerned about not being able to attend once in a lifetime events such
       as prom or graduation.

    Teens Admit to Bad Decisions, Recognize Risks:
    -- Nine in ten (90%) don't think drinking is worth the negative
       consequences, with older teen girls (15-17) agreeing the most (97% vs.
       89% for 12-14 year olds).
    -- Forty-five percent say they -- or someone they know -- have said things
       to friends they regret and four in ten (40%) say they -- or someone
       they know -- have gotten into a fight while drinking.
    -- Older teens (15-17) are more likely than younger teens (12-14) to say
       they -- or someone they know -- have made at least one bad decision as
       a result of drinking - 72% vs. 60%.
    -- One fourth of teens (26%) admit they -- or someone they know -- have
       ridden in a car with a driver who has been drinking, and 21% admit they
       -- or someone they know -- have driven under the influence.

The social and physical risks of underage drinking revealed in the survey are reflected in an innovative, teen-directed public service announcement (PSA) titled "What You Don't Know." The unique PSA concept -- recently selected by representatives of MTV, the Ad Council and 20,000 online voters -- aims to deter teens from underage drinking. The Century Council developed the "Reel Girls, Real Life" contest to encourage girls nationwide to submit concepts for television PSAs to dissuade peers from drinking, part of their public education initiative, Girl Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking.

Kylee Darcy, a freshman at the University of California at Berkeley won the contest, and was awarded $5,000 and the opportunity to shoot her PSA with industry pros. Darcy's PSA features two teen girls, "Kristen" and "Sarah," who are shocked to discover that a video of "Sarah" drinking at a party surfaced on a social networking web site. Viewers are instructed to visit www.alot2lose.com to find out what happens next.

For more information about Girl Talk or The Century Council, visit: www.grltlk.org or www.centurycouncil.org

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VIDEO PROVIDED BY: The Century Council

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