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PRESS RELEASE: 20.12.2006

AFTER EIGHTEEN awards presented

AFTER EIGHTEEN backs secondary schools in their bid to prevent underage alcohol use

The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry and the Youth Academy have once again presented their AFTER EIGHTEEN awards. This is the fifth time that the prizes have awarded measures planned by secondary schools to prevent the underage use of alcohol.

The well-deserved main prize of EUR 1,000 went to Pirkkala Secondary School for its diverse range of measures. Members of the school’s active students association have planned a campaign including everything from morning assemblies to logo competitions and badge printing. The secondary school carries out extensive cooperation to support an alcohol- and substance-free way of life for young people. The youth department of the Municipality of Pirkkala, Pirkkala Parish youth services and the local newspaper Pirkkalalainen are all cooperating with the school.

A total of six schools received prizes, the others being Pyynikki School in Tampere, Kuivajoki School in Kuivaniemi, Martinlaakso School in Vantaa, the Kuoppanummi Schooling Center in Vihti and Paana School in Jokioinen.

The best plans really stood out from the crowd. They were carefully drawn up and the measures were both diverse and interconnected with year-round, everyday school life. The students themselves were proactive in both planning and carrying out measures, and they also knew how to make good use of external organizations.

If you care, don’t share

“We need to address alcohol abuse together. Underage drinking can be influenced in the school environment by talking to young people in their own language,” says Timo Jaatinen, Managing Director of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry.

“Selling and supplying alcohol to minors is a big problem. Adults need to understand the serious consequences that alcohol can have on children. If you care, don’t share.”

Members of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry do not manufacture alcoholic drinks for, or market them to, under 18s. The Federation actively encourages an alcohol-free lifestyle for minors and supports schools in the various activities they arrange as part of their alcohol and substance education programmes.

The AFTER EIGHTEEN awards are part of the nationwide Alcohol Programme 2004-2007. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry and the Youth Academy, which has signed a partnership agreement to participate in the programme, have already been cooperating since 2000.