[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18553-S18554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE NEW READY OR NOT PROGRAM TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, every day in Congress, we tackle some of 
the most pressing problems facing our nation. But sometimes, the best 
solutions don't come from the Capitol. They come from homes and schools 
and community organizations that you find in every town and city, all 
across the country. That's what a new program called ``Ready or Not: 
Talking with Kids About Alcohol,'' is all about.
  If you have kids, you know that telling them to ``just say no'' to 
alcohol doesn't always work. Kids want to know why they should say no. 
``Ready or Not'' is a new video educational program that's designed to 
help parents and other adult supervisors answer that question for kids 
between the ages of 10 and 14.
  ``Ready or Not'' is a joint effort of the Boys & Girls Clubs of 
America and the Century Council, an organization funded by the alcohol 
industry. It was introduced just after Thanksgiving, and it's already 
making an impact. I want to congratulate the Boys and Girls Club and 
the Century Council for all the time and energy they've invested in 
this important program.
  I also want to commend my 36 colleagues in the House and Senate who 
have joined me in officially endorsing this life-saving project.
  A recent survey of America's pre-teens--pre-teens--shows that about 
four in 10 expect to have problems handling situations involving the 
use of alcohol. Another survey by the University of Michigan found 
that, in 1994, more than a quarter of America's eighth-graders reported 
drinking alcohol in the last month. And, more and more kids are 
becoming ``binge drinkers.''
  We know from our experience in combating teen smoking that if you 
reach kids early and tell them the truth, they're far more likely to 
make good decisions about their health. ``Ready or Not'' will help us 
replicate that success, we hope, with teen drinking.
  There are two reasons that ``Ready or Not'' targets kids between the 
ages of 10 and 14. First, that's when many ``problem drinkers'' first 
start experimenting with alcohol. Second, and more important, parents 
and other adults still have a lot of influence over kids at that age. 
With the help of ``Ready or Not,'' we can reach kids who are in danger 
of abusing alcohol, and prevent problems before they start.

[[Page S18554]]

  The last thing a developing mind and body needs is to be stunted with 
alcohol. ``Ready or Not'' will help parents and teachers and other 
adults make that case convincingly to America's young people. It fills 
a critical need, and I'm proud to lend my name to help support it.

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