Prom season kicked off in April and once again schools, parents, lawmakers and Michigan’s beer and wine industry joined forces to fight underage drinking.

For the seventh year, the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association distributed the “Parents Unite to Prevent Underage Drinking” booklets to legislators and local schools. This year, the MBWWA – a leader in efforts to fight illegal drinking and drunken driving – distributed over 55,300 guides.

The 20-page guide, titled “Parents Unite to Prevent Underage Drinking,” is distributed to schools and organizations beginning in April as part of National Alcohol Awareness Month. The booklets offer tips for parents on how to talk to their teens about alcohol, how to spot alcohol use and how to prevent it. It is produced in conjunction with the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. As of mid-May, at least 20 state legislators have helped distribute the booklets in their respective districts.

“Michigan’s beer and wine wholesalers are committed to the fight against underage drinking,” MBWWA President Mike Lashbrook said. “We’re proud to partner with local communities, parents, schools and our elected officials to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors. We strongly believe that alcohol awareness starts at home and in our schools, with parents and educators. Our booklet is one of the many ways the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association is helping parents keep our children safe from underage drinking.”

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu recently released a report calling for community leaders and the alcohol industry to work together to reduce underage drinking. In a call to action, Moritsugu urged parents to be involved in their child’s activities and be the first line of defense in the fight against underage drinking. A 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that there are 11 million underage drinkers. According to Moritsugu, 20 percent of 14-year-olds say they have been drunk. And a survey by Mothers Against Drunk Driving found that alcohol was a culprit in nearly half of all traffic deaths involving 15- to 20-year-olds during the 2004 prom season.