The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is asking young filmmakers to help spread its message about the dangers of underage drinking through the Youth Voice and Vision Video Public Service Announcement Contest. The video contest is part of the taskforce’s participation in National Alcohol Awareness Month, which is held every year in April.
The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is an alliance of individuals and organizations that mobilizes and challenges Cobb County adults to reduce underage drinking and youth binge drinking through enforcement and policy and education goals. According to the taskforce, kids who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become alcohol dependent. A taskforce study conducted in 2009 found that one third of Cobb 10th and 12th graders had used alcohol within a month of taking the survey.
The Youth Voice and Vision Video PSA Contest is open to Cobb sixth through 12th graders. Participants can make a 30-, 60- or 90-second video that deals with adults providing alcohol to kids or showing how youth can use sources of strength to change attitudes about other youth using alcohol.
The deadline for submissions is March 31 at 5 p.m. Videos will be critiqued by a three-person panel that will score the submissions based 30 percent on originality and creativity, 30 percent on communication of message and 40 percent on overall appeal. Viewers can pick the winner of the viewers choice category April 1-13. The winning videos will be posted on various websites and will air on Cobb Government TV23 and CobbEd TV24. The winning films will be screened and honored at an awards ceremony April 26.
The first prize winner receives $300, second prize gets $200 and third prize gets $100. There will also be a viewer’s choice prize worth $300. Rules and instructions for submitting entries can be found at the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce website.
