Introduction of UBUL!!!

About U Booze U Looze (UBUL)

In the fall of 2006, LYAC Vice-Chair Ashley Morgan shared with the other LYAC members her concern about the impacts of underage drinking. She had recently attended a meeting on underage drinking & the media (along with the Attorney General) where she gained information on that subject, and she asked the group if they might be interested in addressing underage drinking. Brainstorming began amongst the members, as well as meetings with the Attorney General’s Office, Healthy Androscoggin, Lewiston High School Substance Abuse Counselor, Lewiston Middle School Principal, Lewiston Middle School Health Teacher. The middle school was brought into the discussions, as LYAC was concerned upon learning that transitional times are often ones when youth turn to alcohol, such as when 8th graders transition into high school.

LYAC had worked with local businessman Nick Knowlton last year when they nominated the City of Lewiston as a 2006 All-America City, and they invited him to be part of their UBUL discussions considering his graphic design abilities. The UBUL logo was developed by Knowlton, and the initiative is particularly dear to his heart due to losing his nephew to a drunk driver.

LYAC proceeded to film their own “Thoughts About Underage Drinking” video using public access Great Falls TV equipment. They interviewed adults and youth throughout the community, to include local teens, Nick Knowlton, a recovering alcoholic, a funeral director, a police officer, and a city councilor.

LYAC launched the youth-to-youth U BOOZE U LOOZE initiative at a February 12, 2007, press conference at Lewiston City Hall with special guest Attorney General Steven Rowe; their video was also debuted on that date.

On February 12 & 13, 2007, members of LYAC spoke to five eighth-grade health classes at Lewiston Middle School & have asked them to make their own UBUL videos for review by LYAC and recognition of the top three videos. Those videos are anticipated to be received by LYAC within the near future.

LYAC was also asked to speak at the March 6, 2007, State Capitol press conference in response to the US Surgeon General’s “Call to Action” to reduce and prevent underage drinking. LYAC members joined Maine’s First Lady Karen Baldacci and Maine’s Public Safety Director Dora Mills at the press event.

The LYAC continues to spread the UBUL message, launching our new website on May 30th, 2007, distributing UBUL Pens & Keychains, distributing posters community-wide, and are pursuing getting the message out to driver’s ed classes statewide. They are also highlighting UBUL as part of the City of Lewiston’s 2007 All-America City application presentation in Anaheim, California in June 2007.

Check back frequently for more on our message. Thanks for visiting!