LANSING – Just in time for Alcohol Responsibility Month, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel partnered with Responsibility.org, to share a public service announcement which encourages parents and caregivers to talk to their kids to prevent underage drinking. The PSA comes during the COVID-19 pandemic–a time when discussing the dangers of underage drinking may have taken a backseat in many households.

In the PSA, Nessel emphasizes that these conversations are an important step in keeping underage drinking levels down. In fact, 74% of eighth-graders report they have never consumed alcohol, a statistic that has decreased 63% proportionally since 1991.

“Not only is underage drinking dangerous and harmful to kids’ developing brains and bodies, but it’s illegal,” Nessel said. “Parents have the greatest impact on whether or not their kids choose to drink alcohol. I encourage parents to have conversations early and often about the risks of underage drinking.”

The importance of encouraging kids to say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle is also emphasized in the PSA.

“April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, and as we continue our mission to eliminate underage drinking, we want to remind parents how important conversations with their kids are. Our underage drinking prevention program, Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix, blends brain science and refusal strategies to help keep kids safe and substance-free,” said Chris Swonger, President and CEO of Responsibility.org. “From 2003 to 2016, conversations between kids and their parents have increased 73%, while underage drinking has decreased 50%. We have come so far together, but our work is not yet done. We want to continue to keep these statistics moving in the right direction.”

The PSA can be viewed online.