Marketing NCAAW
Sample Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact (Name), (Number)

CORRECTING COLLEGIATE DRINKING NORMS

(CITY),(STATE), October 1, 2000 - This month, at (SCHOOL), students will join with their peers on more than 3,000 other campuses across the country to celebrate National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW), October 15-21 - promoting personal responsibility and respect for the law when it comes to the consumption of alcohol beverages.

NCAAW has grown to become the largest single event in all of academia because students take the ownership in designing and implementing this observance for their campus communities. This week gives campuses the opportunity to showcase healthy lifestyles free from the abuse or illegal use of alcohol and to combat negative stereotypes of college drinking behavior.

"We need to do a better job of showing college students - particularly new students - that their peers are not all abusing alcohol and making bad decisions," said (NAME), (TITLE), at (SCHOOL). "Students want to fit in and follow campus norms. If we incorrectly lead them to believe that everyone is getting drunk on a regular basis, then that's what they will do. We have a responsibility to tell students that making healthy choices is the true norm. Then, we can begin changing public perception."

(NAME) said that among the signs of progress realized at (SCHOOL) are:

Nationally, NCAAW is in its second decade; it started with 25 schools in 1983. The program helps college administrators and students launch and/or strengthen year-round prevention efforts.

"What has set this program apart and contributed to its growth is its approach," said Dr. Edward Hammond, NCAAW's chairman and president of Fort Hays State University in Kansas. "Ultimately, this isn't about alcohol, but attitudes. We don't preach, we educate, and we empower students to take responsibility for their own decisions and environment."

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