Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry supports alcohol education with AFTER EIGHTEEN awards
Press release 4 February 2004
Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry supports alcohol education with AFTER EIGHTEEN awards
AFTER EIGHTEEN awards were again presented to junior high schools for the best plans to prevent underage drinking, in cooperation with the Youth Academy. This was the second year the awards have been presented in this form. Six schools received awards, with the main prizes of €1,000 plus a supply of soft drinks going to Kellokoski Junior High in Tuusula and to Kontiolahti School. Prizes totalled €5,000 in all.
Kellokoski Junior High in Tuusula and Kontiolahti School won top honours for their plans to prevent underage drinking. These plans showed an action-oriented, long-term approach in which pupils play a leading role and parents are also actively involved. Operating models were varied and ready to use. Partners outside school were also involved in the plans. The plans included different school activities such as lessons conducted by pupils, adventure days and a substance-free disco. In one case the strategy was also creatively carried out with a music class, which produced background music and a video for an anti-substance rap song.
Juhani Aho School in Iisalmi and Karhula School in Kotka both received prizes of €800. Salla Junior High and Joensuun Lyseo Comprehensive School received €700 each.
The purpose of the AFTER EIGHTEEN project is to support alcohol education among young people. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry has participated in the Youth Academy’s Mahis (Chance) programme since 2000 and in its Note programme since 2002. This is the second year awards have been presented to comprehensive schools. Especially in view of the lowering of alcohol taxes and Estonia's accession to the European Union this spring, the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry wants to emphasize its own sense of responsibility as a producer of alcoholic beverages.
The best plans were picked by a jury including representatives of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry and the Youth Academy as well as teachers and a ninth-grade pupil. Plans were submitted by 13 junior high schools in different parts of Finland. The jury was pleased with the response and praised the level of applications. The projects which received AFTER EIGHTEEN awards will be presented this autumn on the Youth Academy's website at http://www.nuortenakatemia.fi/.
Additional information:
Communications Manager Katri Tuulensuu, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 7601, GSM +358 (0)40 777 1938
Susanna Winter, Youth Academy, tel. +358 9 3487 0602
The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry promotes the interests of producers of beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks and mineral waters in Finland. Its members are Oy Hartwall Ab, Olvi Oyj, Pirkanmaan Uusi Panimo - PUP Oy and Oy Sinebrychoff Ab. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry operates in connection with the Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation and is among the three largest industries in the food and drink branch in terms of the value of production.
