National Family Day Highlights Advantages of Dinner Together

Salt Lake City, September 22, 2011 – National Family Day is a reminder to parents that dinner together is an effective way to stay engaged in their children’s lives. On September 26 at 10 a.m., First Lady Jeanette Herbert, Utah’s honorary chair of Family Day, will invite Utah families to join other families across the country to participate in Family Day. She will kick off Family Day at Dan’s Market in Olympus Hills Shopping Center, 3981 S. Wasatch Blvd., Salt Lake City.

Studies show that children who eat dinner with their family are much less likely to drink alcohol, use other drugs or smoke. In fact, children are 33 percent less likely to be involved in underage drinking when they eat dinner as a family five to seven times a week. “As parents, let us commit to spending more time with our kids,” says Mrs. Herbert, “eating dinner with them, talking to them about life’s challenges and finding ways to help them strengthen their relationships of trust.”

Additional sponsors of Family Day are Associated Retail Stores (Dick’s Market, Dan’s Market, Lin’s and Maceys), Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Utah Prevention, Utah Parent Teacher Association and ParentsEmpowered.org.

In partnership with ParentsEmpowered.org, all Dick’s Market, Dan’s Market, Lin’s and Maceys grocery stores statewide will be participating in the Family Day campaign. In-store freezer door messages, alcohol aisle floor signage, basket liners, and family value meal bags will remind parents that dinner bonding time is important to keep kids alcohol-free.“The time spent together as a family can strongly influence many decisions children must make as they mature, including the decision not to experiment with alcohol,” says Todd Berrett, Regional Vice President for Dan’s and Dick’s markets. “We are proud to support parents through this campaign.”

Dr. Richard J. Sperry, Commission Chair from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, will join Todd Berrett, Regional Vice President for Dan’s and Dick’s Market and Mrs. Herbert as speakers.

“As we provide parents with the necessary skills to help keep their kids alcohol-free,” says Dr. Sperry, “we create a safer, more healthy Utah.”

ParentsEmpowered.org is a statewide campaign focused on eliminating underage drinking in Utah. Its primary goals are to educate parents about the dangers of underage drinking and provide them with proven skills to communicate with their children about remaining alcohol-free. More information is available at www.ParentsEmpowered.org