Annual ParentsEmpowered Press Conference

October 22, 2009

Utah state officials and ParentsEmpowered.org kick off the fourth year of statewide underage drinking prevention on Thurs., Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Boardroom at the state capital with news that underage drinking is decreasing and parental awareness and involvement is on the rise.

THOSE WHO WILL SPEAK:

Sam Granato, Chairman, Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, conducting

Lt. Governor Greg Bell

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff

Senator Peter C. Knudson

Senate President Michael G. Waddoups

State Representative Ron Bigelow

Dan Jones, Dan Jones & Associates

Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore

Others present: President of MADD, Art Brown; Utah PTA President Illene Mecham; Utah mayors and chiefs of police.

The growth and success of the campaign and prevention efforts is bolstered by results of the annual statewide SHARP (Student Health and Risk Prevention) survey, which has definitively measured a reduction in underage drinking. 

Underage drinking is a statewide problem that requires the entire state to join in the solution. The goal of ParentsEmpowered.org is to educate families and communities about the dangers and lifelong implications of underage drinking and provide them with skills and resources to help eliminate the likelihood their children will drink.