Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Honors Young Artists for Educating Peers about the Dangers of Underage Drinking

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During a ceremony in The State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today recognized 50 students who participated in the 24th annual Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest.

"Studies have shown that peer-to-peer messaging is one of the most effective ways to reach children and teenagers. That's why the Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest is so important. Young people design artwork that conveys a message to other young people," said PLCB Chairman Tim Holden. "And our contest ensures these are positive no-use messages. It's better to provide messages that encourage fun, healthy, safe alternatives to underage drinking."

In their winning poster designs, students focused on positive messages, such as the benefits of being alcohol-free and healthy alternatives to drinking, such as hobbies and extracurricular activities.

The PLCB will use the designs to create posters, bookmarks and coloring sheets to distribute throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, the grade winners will have their artwork reproduced in a calendar. Students who created the best pieces received cash prizes.

Nearly 1,300 students from 49 counties across the state participated in this year's contest, using crayons, ink, colored pencils, paint and computer-generated imagery to create their posters. Their entries were judged on presentation and message. Since the poster contest began in 1992, almost 35,000 entries have been submitted, and thousands more students have participated through projects in their school classrooms.

"Every year, we are always impressed not just with the artistic talent displayed by Pennsylvania students, but by the creativity of the alcohol awareness messages depicted in these posters," said Board Member Mike Negra. "It's encouraging to know that so many students in every grade and from every corner of the state take this contest so seriously and put so much effort into developing art that really speaks to their peers."

This year's winning posters will be displayed in The State Museum of Pennsylvania from April 4 through April 8.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide and licenses more than 20,000 beverage alcohol producers and retailers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling more than $14.5 billion since the agency's inception – are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, and the PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit www.lcb.state.pa.us.

MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Brassell, 717.783.8864

2015-16 PLCB BUREAU OF ALCOHOL EDUCATION
ALCOHOL AWARENESS POSTER CONTEST WINNERS

Grade winners – $50 each

Reproductions – $100 each

Special Recognition

* = Previous Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest winner

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board