Congressman Jim Himes brings Ask, Listen, Learn to West Rocks Middle School
Norwalk, CT — Today, Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) partnered with The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program to encourage students at West Rocks Middle School to “say ‘YES’ to a healthy lifestyle and ‘NO’ to underage drinking.”
Congressman Himes cheered on students as they eagerly competed for high scores in the running competition on Ask, Listen, Learn’s interactive game. The game enables middle school kids to learn about the negative consequences of underage drinking and the benefits of making healthy decisions while they exercise. The premise is based on research by Harvard Medical School’s Dr. John Ratey, showing that for a person’s brain to function at its peak, the body needs to move. The multimedia program includes a game and print materials, and the website presents a pledge to live a healthy lifestyle, online games and pages featuring Ask, Listen, Learn Superstars. Ask, Listen, Learn’s message is also distributed to 30,000 middle schools nationwide through Scholastic resources.
“It’s critical that these students understand that the choices they make today—good or bad—will have an impact on their futures,” said Congressman Himes. “I’m proud to participate in the creative work the Ask, Listen, Learn team is doing to engage children in the sometimes challenging discussion about underage drinking.”
West Rocks principal, Dr. Lynne Moore, commended The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s efforts to reach her students on this key issue. “It’s no surprise that Ask, Listen, Learn has been popular at schools across the country. The way in which it encourages collaborative conversations about underage drinking in the classroom and at home with family is invaluable to our students.”
“While we’re proud to note the availability of alcohol to underage youth has continued to decline for more than a decade, 11 percent of 8th graders report they have consumed alcohol in the past month,” said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. “It’s important for parents to begin the conversation about underage drinking early and to have it often – which is exactly what we are trying to jumpstart here today.”
About Ask, Listen, Learn
Ask, Listen, Learn is the most widely distributed alcohol education program of its kind. Ask, Listen, Learn’s initiatives include Asklistenlearn.com, a website that encourages kids to “say ‘YES’ to a healthy lifestyle and ‘NO’ to underage drinking” by offering kids interactive and educational games and videos. On the site kids can read about positive role models and take a pledge to make healthy choices. Parents and educators are also encouraged to visit the site to find tips on how to facilitate these conversations with kids.
About The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, is a national not-for-profit leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam, Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Hood River Distillers, Inc.; and Pernod Ricard USA. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol and develops and implements innovative programs and public awareness campaigns which ignite action through strategic partnerships. Established in 1991, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s initiatives are highlighted on its website at www.www.responsibility.org and www.asklistenlearn.org.