Century Council Blog
Safer roads for everyone - The Roads Safe Act of 2010
In 2006, The Century Council committed its support for the exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving. The Century Council believes that development of technology to prevent drunk driving holds great promise if it is moderately priced, absolutely reliable, set at the legal BAC limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and unobtrusive to the sober driver.
We are pleased to reaffirm this longstanding support by supporting The Roads Safe Act of 2010, introduced today by Senator Tom Udall (DNM) and co-sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). This legislation would significantly increase Federal funding for the ongoing exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving led by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the auto industry.
The Century Council is proud of its nearly 20 year commitment to fighting drunk driving and our many partnerships with groups like AAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the National District Attorneys Association, among others. Through these efforts we have worked to reduce drunk driving especially among repeat offenders and people who drive at high BAC levels of .15% or above. For these drivers, The Century Council also favors tiered systems that mandate more severe penalties, treatment, and aftercare.
We applaud the leadership of Senator Udall and Senator Corker in working to develop technology that would prevent people from driving drunk and save thousands of lives each year. Click here to learn more about the Roads Safe Act of 2010.
ESPN Covers Century Council: Olympic athletes take time to teach kids
By Alyssa Roenigk
WHISTLER, British Columbia -- When University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was in seventh grade, a speaker came to his middle school to talk about living a healthy lifestyle.
At the time, McCoy was drinking a six-pack of Dr. Pepper a day. "Athletes do not drink soda," the speaker said to a room full of student athletes between the ages of 10 and 13. "Soda slows you down." The comment fell on mostly deaf ears. But McCoy felt like it was aimed directly at him. He wanted to be a great quarterback. And quarterbacks are athletes. So the next day, McCoy swore off the stuff. "I was 12, but I knew I wanted to play at the highest level," McCoy told me last fall. To this day, he has never taken a sip of soda.
What does that story have to do with the Winter Olympics? A lot, actually. For the athletes here in Vancouver, the Olympics is more than just the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and the biggest competition stage of their lives. It is also a platform from which to influence young fans, to talk about the organizations they work with and to sell the messages they hope will be attached to their stories. Examples like McCoy's are proof that when the messages are packaged well, kids are willing to buy them.
And that's why, Monday afternoon, U.S. cross-country skiers Kikkan Randall and Andy Newell were spending their rest day between competition hanging with kids at an event held at the Spyder U.S. Ski team house in Whistler Village. Sponsored by the Century Council, a not-for-profit organization funded by distillers and aimed at eliminating drunk driving and underage drinking, Kid's Day was well worth the time away from training and race prep, Randall said.
"The Olympics is such a great platform for athletes to talk about the causes we care about, so I try to fit in any appearances I can," said Randall, who competes again Thursday in the 4x5km relay. "I love the message we're sending to these kids. Living healthy lifestyles is the key to doing what we do." Randall, who is from Anchorage, also works with a similar organization in her hometown called Healthy Futures, as well as Fast and Female, a group dedicated to helping teach young girls to feel empowered through playing sports.
"My aunt and uncle were Olympic cross-country skiers, and I latched on to them," Randall said. "When I was 5, I decided I wanted to go to the Olympics, and I had their example to follow. It's great to be that person for other kids."
Between stints spent signing autographs and talking with fans, Randall and Newell cheered on the kids while they played an interactive videogame as part of the Council's AskListenLearn campaign, which teaches kids the dangers of alcohol abuse and encourages parents to talk to their children about drinking. USA Softball team captain Jessica Mendoza stopped by to play a few rounds of the game as well.
"All these kids want to be Olympians," Mendoza said. "And the question they ask most is, 'How do I do it?' I can tell them it's by staying away from alcohol and drugs and being healthy and active. This is the perfect time for them to absorb it all in."
And who better to tell them than an Olympian.
"When I was a kid, I met Bill Koch and he signed my skis," Newell says. "He was the only American to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing and meeting him made an impression on me. It gave me the motivation to keep skiing, because I could get there one day, too."
Even if it meant making great sacrifices. Like ditching the Dr. Pepper.
Source: ESPN.com
Dr. Wolf: My 13-year-old pierced her belly button. How can I trust her again?
Dear Dr. Wolf,
My 13-year-old has been pestering me for permission to get her belly button pierced for the past year. My answer has always been no, she is too young.
Last night she revealed that she had gone ahead and done it without my permission. I had said no, and she went and did it anyway. There were good reasons why I said no.
Now it’s a trust issue. She has to trust me, and I have to be able to trust her. (And if I had known she would do it anyway, I would have helped her research to make sure she was getting it done in a safe place.)
If she feels she can get away with this one, what next? I am stumped. This is a first-time thing for me.
Distressed Mum
Dear Distressed Mum,
First, let me address the two big issues: trust and control.
Cops in Shops reaches Montana!
Today, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock and Jim Lynch, the Director of Montana Department of Transportation, launched Montana’s own Cops In Shops program. Check out coverage of the event here.
Cops In Shops, a program The Century Council has been supporting since 1995, focuses on underage drinkers trying to buy alcohol as well as those purchasing for minors. The program places undercover officers in participating retail locations. Often one undercover officer works inside the store while a second officer is positioned outside the establishment to apprehend adults who procure alcohol for youth.
Participating retail establishments will also display signs in their establishments like the one below, provided by The Century Council.
39% of underage drinkers say getting in trouble with the law is their top worry about underage drinking. For this reason, we’re very glad to have Montana as the 49th state to participate in Cops In Shops!
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's New Ask, Listen, Learn PSA
Yesterday, we made our way to Florida to talk with Boys and Girls Clubbers in Miami. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and The Century Council's Chairwoman, Susan Molinari talked to the kids about the importance of saying YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking. The Congresswoman taped a public service announcement in both Spanish and English which will air in the Miami area encouraging parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking.
For more information, visit the parent's section of our Ask, Listen, Learn website.
Let's Move!
National rates of obesity have tripled in the past three decades to the point where one in three kids in the country are overweight. First Lady Michelle Obama just kicked off a new nationwide campaign called "Let's Move" to fight obesity in kids.
Some of the ways that "Let's Move" will help fight obesity will start right in your kid's schools. Healthier lunches, nutrition education, and physical activity are all part of the plan. We're big fans of adding physical activity and education to schools.
One of our partners, PE4Life, is all about providing quality physical education and doing it in a fun and interactive way! Professional sports are also helping to make "Let's Move" a success – the NFL, NLB, WNBA, and MLS will all be promoting "60 Minutes of Play a Day". We're especially glad that the MLS is helping out because we are proud sponsors of our local team in Washington D.C., D.C. United! Check out D.C. United Midfielder Devon's McTavish's SuperStar profile and his PSA below.
We are big fans of Mrs. Obama's new campaign. The Century Council's Ask Listen Learn program encourages kids to say "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking. Promoting a healthy and active lifestyle is what being an Ask, Listen, Learn Team member is all about. Fighting obesity will allow kids to live to healthier and longer lives. This is a very important cause! Parents, please visit www.asklistenlearn.com with your son or daughter today.