The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc. Announces Winners of 2012 PSA Contest for Connecticut’s College Students

Keynote Speaker WFSB News Anchor Eric Parker inspires students to be positive role models during alcohol awareness month with “Lessons from the News Beat”

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc. (WSWC) together with Mr. Christopher Piscitelli, Director of Judicial Affairs for Southern Connecticut State University; CT Consumer Protection Commissioner William Rubenstein; Jill Spineti, CEO, Governor’s Prevention Partnership; Lt. Paul Vance, Connecticut State Police and WFSB News Anchor Eric Parker; announced the winners of the WSWC Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest 2012 at an awards ceremony held in the Adanti Student Center at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Entrants were required to write, film, and produce a thirty-second television public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. The theme of this year’s contest is: Connecticut Parents DO Make a Difference…the role parents play in the prevention of underage drinking. The theme is one Lt. Vance said was a very important one for Connecticut parents to hear, particularly during alcohol awareness month. “Data show, again and again, that kids cite their parents as the leading influence over their decision to drink - or not to drink - alcohol. When you talk, they really do listen” said Lt. Vance.

Thirty teams consisting of over 100 students from Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, University of Bridgeport, Sacred Heart University, and Middlesex Community College registered for this year’s competition.

“We commend the WSWC and its partners for their commitment to this important public service initiative. Providing Connecticut’s college students with an opportunity to help fight underage drinking allows them to use their talent and creativity to inform their peers and the public, and potentially save lives,” said SCSU University Judicial Officer Christopher Piscitelli: “We congratulate everyone involved in this effort, from the student video producers to the public and private agencies, for their outstanding work and steadfast dedication.”

“The members of the WSWC are proud of the excellent work all of the entrants exhibited this year,” said Peter Berdon, Executive Director of the WSWC. “Now in its fifth year, the high quality of the submissions shows that the contest has been successful in energizing the students and the state’s universities in the fight against underage drinking. We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnerships with this contest and to do our part in combating underage drinking and drunk driving.”

The first place winner of the PSA Contest 2012 was team “Putting Parents Into the Mix” from Sacred Heart University. The team consists of: Jeff Crane, Mike Dominguez, Jade Ean-Heller, Lauren Forgione, Michele Herrmann, Justine Luzzi, Guilherme Palma Neto, and Wayne Travers. Dr. Lori Bindig advised the team. The award was presented by WSWC member Brian Albenze of Connecticut Distributors, Inc.

Second place is awarded to Josh Therriault from Central Connecticut State University. His faculty advisor is Professor Jeff Teitler. The award was presented by WSWC member David Heller of Allan S. Goodman, Inc.

Team “Falcone’s Falcons” from the University of New Haven placed third. Team members included Lindsay Bugryn, Alyse Gibson, Andrew Jones, John Kovalsky, Katie Noyes, and Jeff Rogers. Their faculty advisor was Paul Falcone. The award was presented by WSWC member David Rosenberg of Hartley & Parker, Ltd.

First place winner “Putting Parents into the Mix” was also presented with a Technical Excellence award. The award was presented by WSWC member Brian Lewis of Opici Wine Co. of CT.

The winning entries received prizes of $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place and technical excellence.

“Putting Parents into the Mix” winning PSA will air on Fox 61 WTIC-TV, NBC Connecticut, and WTNH-8 in spots sponsored by the WSWC.

“Congratulations to the winners of the PSA contest. This is a talented group of students who conveyed the winning message on the importance of stopping underage drinking,” said contest judge and CEO of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, Jill Spineti “Their message needs to be repeated constantly - parental involvement will only increase the awareness of the risks of underage drinking. Thank you to Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut for taking the lead in getting such an important message out to parents and students—I commend them for their work.”

Guests were welcomed into the ballroom in the Adanti Student Center by SCSU Director of Judicial Affairs, Christopher Piscitelli and enjoyed refreshments. The attendees were treated to a viewing of all the submitted entries. Keynote speaker Eric Parker addressed the guests on “Lessons from the News Beat.”

Mr. Parker, a Connecticut native, is an award winning journalist and an honors graduate from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He can be seen each weekday morning as the co-anchor of Eyewitness News This Morning and as the Chief Investigative Reporter for the Channel 3 I-Team.

The contestants’ submissions were scored by a panel of judges consisting of: WFSB newscaster Eric Parker; DCP Commissioner William Rubenstein; Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police; Jill Spineti; Emma Asante of NBC 30; representatives from Cashman + Katz; CT Representative Lonnie Reed; UCONN Professor Dr. Carolyn Lin; and Erica Grow from WTNH.

Now in its fifth year, WSWC created its PSA Contest to help combat underage drinking and drunk driving. The WSWC PSA Contest is one of several programs initiated by the WSWC as part of its community relations program.

The WSWC is working in collaboration with The Governor’s Prevention Partnership and other community stakeholders to achieve the common goal of reducing underage drinking. The contest is held annually and is open to any Connecticut college or university student; including any Connecticut residents attending college in another state.

The WSWC is a trade association made up of the state’s leading wine and spirits wholesalers. Its members include Connecticut Distributors, Inc. and Hartley and Parker, Ltd both located in Stratford; Eder Bros. located in West Haven; Allan S. Goodman, Inc. located in East Hartford; Opici Wine Company of Connecticut in Milford and Winebow of Connecticut located in Wallingford. The members of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut are a key link in the 3-Tier System which ensures the regulated distribution of beverage alcohol in Connecticut. WSWC members purchase beverage alcohol from suppliers and manufacturers and then market, sell and distribute those products to licensed retailers – restaurants and package stores.

Connecticut wine and spirit wholesalers:
- are licensed and regulated by the state of Connecticut and the federal government;
- are responsible to insure that the wines and spirits brought in to the state by manufacturers and importers are sold and distributed only to licensed retailers (package stores and restaurant);
- pay to the state in excess of $48 million dollars in state excise taxes;
- assist the Department of Revenue Services in the collection of Sales and Use Taxes, in excess of $130 Million Dollars annually;
- provide in excess of 2,000 direct jobs to Connecticut residents; and
- contribute in excess of $170 million dollars in direct and in direct benefits to the state’s economy.

The members of the WSWC are committed to ensuring that the best possible safeguards to prevent the sale of beverage alcohol to minors are in place and adults of legal drinking age consume beverage alcohol responsibly. To that end the members of the WSWC have established its community relations program which develops and implements grassroots community based programs designed to combat underage drinking and drunk driving.

Please consult the WSWC community relations website: www.talktomenow.org for additional information.