Alcohol: Truth and Consequences

While there are many teen-oriented alcohol avoidance videos on the market featuring nightmarish sequences involving freaky statistics superimposed over images of flashing emergency lights (and some of them are pretty effective), Alcohol: Truth and Consequences offers a refreshing change from the standard “scared straight” approach. Aimed at middle school students, the program dispenses with heavy-handed drama or statistics-driven narration to present a realistic, non-melodramatic sketch convincingly acted by a group of multi-ethnic teens. Told in flashback, eighth-grader Lucy revisits the night she and a group of her friends came up with a scheme to stay overnight at their school for a private party that included alcohol. Not surprisingly, the party has some realistically negative consequences--property damage, misunderstandings, and a broken arm when one kid attempts a dangerous stunt. Creatively shot and edited, this program is a good springboard for discussion, especially since it touches on other relevant teen topics--friendships, parental trust, and being “cool”--in addition to alcohol abuse. Recommended. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)