According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida had 1,274 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2003, and 154 of those fatalities were among youth under 21.
At the heart of The Council's educational campaign is the Blood Alcohol Educator (BAE) CD-ROM, a credit card-sized disk, in both English and Spanish, that educates the user about how alcohol influences their BAC level. Highlighting the campaign is a colorful van, dubbed the Blood Alcohol Educator (BAE), which is traveling the country to distribute the CD-ROMs. In almost six years, the project has evolved into a successful national tour, with the BAE Van traveling to 47 states and the District of Columbia.
The user-friendly vehicle converts to an interactive cyber-café that includes computer terminals which allow visitors to use the BAE CD-ROM to estimate their BAC level based on sex, weight and the type and number of drinks consumed at the BAE CD-ROM's virtual bar. In addition to reflecting a person's BAC level, the CD-ROM includes a virtual clock that demonstrates how long it will take for an individual's BAC level to return to .00. The program can be viewed online at www.b4udrink.org.
The Blood Alcohol Educator Van will make the following stops on the statewide tour:- Wednesday, January 26
Tallahassee — Florida State University with Attorney General Charlie Crist - Thursday, January 27
Tampa — University of South Florida-Tampa - Monday, January 31
Bradenton — Manatee Community College with Representative Katherine Harris - Tuesday, February 1
Fort Pierce — Indian River Community College - Wednesday, February 2
Boca Raton — Florida Atlantic University - Thursday, February 3 or 4 (TBD)
Miami — Florida International University
For more information contact The Century Council at (202) 637-0077.
