CONGRESSMAN PETE OLSON BRINGS ASK, LISTEN, LEARN TO BECKENDORFF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Katy, TX — Today, Congressman Pete Olson partnered with The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program to embolden students at Northern Middle School to “say ‘YES’ to a healthy lifestyle and ‘NO’ to underage drinking.”
“As a father, I know how difficult it can be to start the conversation underage drinking,” said Congressman Olson. “I’m proud share the Ask, Listen, Learn program with families in my district to encourage our youth, the future of Texas, to make smart, healthy choices in middle school.”
Congressman Olson cheered on the students as they actively competed for high scores in the running competition on Ask, Listen, Learn’s interactive game. The game enables youth 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 the game and print materials, with the website presenting a pledge to live a healthy lifestyle, online games and pages featuring Ask, Listen, Learn Superstars.
Beckendorff Junior High School Principal Mindy Dickerson praised The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s efforts to reach her students on this vital issue. “My students love having Ask, Listen, Learn in the classroom- they have fun running on the game and learning all about healthy lifestyles, then the conversation continues with their family at home. There are no other alcohol education programs out there that compare!”
“Though we’re happy to say the availability of alcohol to underage youth has declined 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. “We thank Congressman Olson and all the teachers and administrators here at Beckendorff Junior High for their help in getting out this important message about the dangers of underage drinking.”
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 for tips on how to facilitate these conversations and read interviews with gymnast Aly Raisman’s parents on how they talked to their kids about underage drinking. Ask, Listen, Learn is also on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest constantly promoting a healthy lifestyle message.
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, their initiatives are highlighted online at www.www.responsibility.org and www.asklistenlearn.org.