Top Ten Reasons Not to Drink Alcohol

Reviews

This program is acted out as a game show spoof and starts out a bit cheesy, but the message is anything but. Mandi Ice and Alex Count, two teens who have been honored as outstanding students at their schools,are asked by Joe Candid what they’re going to do to celebrate. Their mutual answer is “Party!” This is a perfect segue into the top 10 reasons not to drink as a teen, including impaired decision-making, memory loss, long-term brain damage, a much higher risk of addiction, legal issues, and possibly death. As Mandi and Alex are alternately put on the spot by Joe as each reason is discussed, costar Barbara provides statistics and graphic videos to get points across. For example, Alex puts on googles that simulate blurred vision and tries to unsuccessfully pin the tail on a donkey. Sobering facts are mixed with the goofiness: teens drink less frequently than adults, but drink more when they do. The dangers of vaping are also highlighted, as are statistics: 190,000 emergency visits per year are related to underage drinking, and there are 88,000 alcohol-related deaths annually in the United States.  Verdict This video won’t scare those most at risk, but it will do a good job of making other teens think before drinking.

—John R Clark, formerly at Hartland Public Library, ME
School Library Journal