One Week Left to Enter Alcohol Justice's Free The Bowl® 2012 Video Contest

$1,000 Prize for Top Youth-Produced Counter-Beer-Ad that Focuses on Alcohol-Related Violence

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The January 23, 2012, deadline is quickly approaching for young people ages 10 to 20 to submit a video entry in Alcohol Justice's fourth annual, national, anti-beer-advertising contest at FreeTheBowl.com. "We are challenging youth this year to expose the relationship of beer advertising and consumption to violence before, during and after sporting events," stated Michael Scippa, Director of Public Affairs at Alcohol Justice. The video contest culminates three days before tens of millions of young people will be deluged by Anheuser-Busch InBev's latest offensive beer ads during Super Bowl XLVI.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110727/DC41105LOGO)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101117/DC03320LOGO)

"After every Bud Light-sponsored-NFL game, an estimated 5,000 people leave the stadiums legally drunk," said Scippa. "The toxic social norm that binds alcohol to sports must be broken. Free the Bowl® allows kids to best illustrate that you don't need to drink alcohol to enjoy the game, despite what the beer ads tell you."

There have been a number of highly publicized incidents of alcohol-related violence at professional sporting venues this year, such as the tragic beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stowe at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium. Research has shown that sports related alcohol advertising, sponsorship, branding, promotions, and sales practices all fuel over-consumption that leads directly to tens of thousands of annual incidents of alcohol-related violence and harm.

Big Alcohol spends a half billion dollars a year advertising on TV sports events alone. The more alcohol ads kids see, the more likely they are to drink, drink to excess and drink more often. In 2009, the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking reported that 5,000 people under the age of 21 die annually from injuries caused by alcohol. Hundreds of thousands more suffer alcohol-fueled sexual assaults, serious injuries, diseases and academic failure.

"Free The Bowl gives young people a channel to digitally protest exploitative alcohol ads shown during TV sporting events," added Scippa. "This year's contest seeks original, 30 second to 3 minute art or music performance counter ads with a core message about alcohol, sports and violence."

The deadline for video entries is January 23, 2012. Contest winners will be announced during the Free The Bowl® 2012 World Premiere, streaming live on February 2, 2012, from the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California. To view past years' exciting winning videos, this year's promotional videos, and more information on contest rules, entry details and prizes, visit FreeTheBowl.com.

Contact:  Michael Scippa 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo  213 840-3336

SOURCE Alcohol Justice