Virginia Attorney General Addresses Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking in New Radi...( Spots encourage use of designated dri...),Health

Spots encourage use of designated drivers and open dialogue between parents

and teens

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell today launched a campaign aimed at preventing drunk driving and underage drinking with new 30-second radio public service announcements (PSAs) set to air on stations throughout the state. The spots are timed to coincide with the busy fall season and will air more than 4,000 times between now and mid-December.

"Promoting the use of designated drivers is an important message leading up to Thanksgiving and the kick off of the holiday season," McDonnell says. "This campaign reminds adults that we all play a part in preventing drunk driving and that one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that is to designate a driver. By doing so, Virginians are joining the millions of adults nationwide who have been or have used a designated driver."

McDonnell also takes aim at underage drinking with two radio spots that remind parents about the importance of talking with their teenage and college-age children about underage and abusive drinking. According to a report from the National Academy of Sciences, two-thirds of teens who drink say they get alcohol from their parents or other adults. Further, the GfK Roper Youth Report(TM), a survey of teens conducted for more than a decade, reveals the majority of teens (69 percent), ages 13 to 17, have consistently cited their parents as the No. 1 influence on their decisions to drink or not.

"Parents have a tremendous influence on their teens' decisions about whether or not to drink," explains McDonnell. "By communicating openly and honestly, setting a good example, and not providing alcohol for their teens or their teens' friends, parents play a critical role in ensuring their children make smart, safe choices."

Fortunately, recent government studies show that underage drinking continues to decline. Ac
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