New Haven, CT – (May 2008) – The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc. (WSWC) together with Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele; Jeffrey Levy, National Director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police and Dr. Michael H. Pernal, Executive Vice President of Eastern Connecticut State University announced the winners of the WSWC Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest 2009 at an awards ceremony held at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Entrants were called write, film, and produce a thirty-second television public service announcement (PSA) educating parents about Connecticut’s House Party Law and the penalties it carries for adults who provide beverage alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Thirty-three teams consisting of 108 students from Eastern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, Western Connecticut State University, and the University of New Haven submitted original PSAs for the contest.

The first place winner of the PSA Contest 2009 was “Team UNH” from the University of New Haven. Team UNH is comprised of Andy Pop, Chelsea Fowler, Stephanie Balesano, Jonathan Gorton, Katie Morris, Thomas Stanley, and Janic Maysonet.
    
“Diversity” of Western Connecticut State University placed second.  Diversity team members include Daniel Choi, David Duncan, Michael Lukaniec, and Robin Moravsky.    

Third place went to Ian Fisher and Kyle Garrity of team, “Playatech”, from Quinnipiac University.

The top three PSA submissions received prizes of $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Team UNH’s winning PSA, “Mugshots”, will air on television stations throughout Connecticut.

“Last year, the goal of the WSWC was to develop a PSA Campaign which encouraged parents to talk to their children about choosing not to drink,” said Peter Berdon, Executive Director of the WSWC. “The response to last year’s winning PSA was extremely positive.  We decided to use this year’s contest as an opportunity to raise awareness about another side of the underage drinking issue – the legal side.  Connecticut’s House Party Law makes it illegal for adults to host parties during which beverage alcohol is supplied to, and consumed by, persons under the age of 21. Period.  The law does not include any exceptions. We, as parents, need to observe this law for the good of our children.”

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Connecticut supports the initiatives of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut to educate parents about the serious consequences of underage drinking and the laws that are in place to prevent it” said Janice Heggie Margolis, Executive Director of MADD in Connecticut. “The winning PSA will make people aware that Connecticut’s House Party Law is real and it is enforced – adults who chose to furnish alcohol to minors under the age of 21 face stiff fines and the very real possibility of jail time.”

“Public Service Announcements are a great way to assist in mobilizing community members to create lasting changes and change community norms,” said Patricia Andriole, Department Head at Branford Counseling Center.

The contestants’ submissions were scored by a panel of judges consisting of: Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele; Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr.; Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police; Chief Douglas S. Fuchs of the Redding Police Department; Emma Asante of NBC 30; Patricia Andriole of the Branford Counseling Center; Janice Heggie Margolis of MADD and Jeffrey Dornenburg of Dornenburg Group Advertising & Marketing Communications.

The WSWC is working in collaboration with The Governor’s Prevention Partnership and other community stakeholders to achieve the common goal of reducing underage drinking. The contest was announced in January 2009 and was open to any Connecticut college student.
Photos of WSWC PSA Contest 2009 Awards Ceremony are available upon request.