Press Release

"We Don't Serve Teens" Campaign Urges Parents to Speak Up and Discourage Underage Drinking

Tampa, FL —  In advance of the winter holiday season, Brian Fischer,
Charmer Sunbelt Group; the Tampa Police Department; and Ed Estes, ABC
Fine Wine and Spirits; joined Shannon Adams of The Century Council, a
national not-for-profit organization funded by the nation's leading
distillers, to launch a public awareness campaign to prevent underage
drinking. The new initiative developed by The Federal Trade Commission
and The Century Council called "We Don’t Serve Teens," is designed to
inform adults that providing underage youth with alcohol is unsafe,
illegal, and irresponsible. The launch took place at ABC Fine Wine and
Spirits on West Gandy Blvd.

"We are unveiling our 'We Don't Serve Teens' campaign today to help
prevent underage purchases and consumption of alcohol not only during
the holiday season, but also throughout the year. The Century Council
has found that nearly one in five (17%) adults believe it is acceptable
for parents to provide alcohol to their teenagers in their own home. It
is our hope this campaign will encourage parents to start and continue
a dialogue with their teen about the dangers of underage drinking.
Turning a blind eye is as irresponsible as putting a drink in their
hands," said Shannon Adams of The Century Council.

To determine parents' perspective on the issue of adults providing
alcohol to underage youth, The Century Council commissioned a survey of
1,000 adults. The results show that overwhelmingly, parents do not
believe it is acceptable for other adults to provide beverage alcohol
to underage youth. Ninety-six percent of adults said it is unacceptable
for another parent or other adult to provide alcohol to their teenager
without their permission. Further, all survey respondents said if they
learned another parent or adult provided alcohol to their teenager
without their permission, they would consider taking recourse against
the other parent, or their child.

The top actions adults would take include:

• Speaking with my child about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking (93%)
• Call that adult and express my objections, feelings and opinions (86%)
• Restrict my child's time at that family's house (80%)
• Limit my child's relationship with that family (76%)
• Notify other parents (74%)
• Punish my own child (69%)

Other actions adults report they would take if such an incident
occurred include calling the police (44%), reporting the incident to
the school (40%), and taking legal action, such as file charges, sue
them, etc. (34%).

"Study after study shows that youth are obtaining the alcohol they
drink from people they know," said Ms. Adams. "You may find it
surprising that data shows that kids cite their parents as the leading
influence over their decision to drink — or not to drink — alcohol.
What better time to talk to your kids than the holiday season, when
opportunities abound. When you talk, they really do listen."

"The Charmer Sunbelt Group is committed to the legal and responsible
sales and consumption of beverage alcohol, and we explore opportunities
for and encourage our associates, retailers and various other industry
associations to play an active role in social responsibility in their
respective communities," said Brian Fischer. "Our goal is to ensure
that licensed establishments do not provide alcohol to anyone under the
age of 21. We're doing our part to stop underage drinking and we want
to encourage parents to do the same at home."

"I am on the front lines of the battle against underage drinking
every day in my role at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits. The Century
Council's 'We Don't Serve Teens' campaign is just one of the many
examples of how we can work to prevent underage drinking and purchasing
of alcohol here in Florida," said Estes. "I am proud to wear my lapel
pin and we have posted the 'We Don't Serve Teens' materials throughout
the store to display how committed we are to fighting underage drinking
and keeping Tampa's teens safe."

The Charmer Sunbelt Group will distribute point of purchase
materials to 350 retail establishments in Tampa as a reminder to
parents and other adults that providing alcohol to teens can mean
serious consequences and to encourage them to speak up about underage
drinking. Elements of the campaign include television and radio public
service announcement, print ad, lapel pins, cold case stickers,
register signs, and ceiling danglers.

The Century Council will distribute the public service announcement
to television stations that serve Tampa, and has launched the campaign
in nine markets nationwide so far. The initiative will continue to be
rolled out in cities across the country through 2007. For more
information on the campaign or to order materials visit www.dontserveteens.gov or www.centurycouncil.org.