This past week we announced our support for a new campaign launched by the FTC and The Century Council (TCC) called “We Don’t Serve Teens.”

The program is designed to remind adults that providing underage drinkers with alcohol is unsafe, illegal, and irresponsible. I believe one of the most important aspects of this program is the recognition that adults play an extremely significant role in the battle against underage drinking.

According to The Century Council’s survey of teen drinkers,
65 percent said they obtain the alcohol they drink from family and friends. While this stat is pretty frightening, TCC also commissioned a survey of 1,000 adults to gauge their perceptions on underage drinking and they found that adults and parents do not believe it is acceptable for parents or other adults to provide beverage alcohol to underage youth. 96 percent of adults said it is unacceptable for another parent or other adult to provide alcohol to their teenager without their permission.

Parents all over the country debate whether or not serving alcohol to teens in their own homes is more responsible then letting them go out, not knowing what their kids are up to. I know this discussion – I’m a parent too. But the bottom line that it is never acceptable to serve alcohol to people under the legal drinking age, period. It’s not only irresponsible, but it’s unsafe, illegal and in some states comes with a serious legal price. Instead, talk to your kids, stay engaged and help educate them on the dangers of drinking. This one of the greatest ways we can help our teens stay out of trouble and say no to alcohol before their 21st birthdays.

As I mentioned before, I realize that this topic is often discussed – and debated – and I would love to hear other people’s views on the matter.