(May 28, 2008) Los Angeles, CA — Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard in cooperation with The Century Council hosted a teen awareness event this week (Wednesday, May 28) to bring a life-saving lesson about the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving to students at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights.

Brandon Silveria and his father, Tony, spoke to an estimated 500 students about the importance of “making the right choice” about alcohol.  For students who are under the age of 21, they emphasized that the only responsible decision is not to drink. Brandon is a young man who was involved in an alcohol-related crash at age 17 just before his high school prom in his hometown of Los Gatos in Northern California.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also hosted an evening presentation on May 27 at Roosevelt High School where parents gathered to hear both the father and son tell their story.

“One death is one too many.  We must do more to keep Los Angeles teens – and teens throughout California – safe and alcohol-free.  I am proud to have Brandon and Tony Silveria with us today to communicate their life-saving message,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, noting that 2006 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistics show that there were 1,779 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in California, 272 of these deaths were among youth under 21.

A leading congressional advocate in the fight against underage drinking, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) won a major victory in 2006 with the passage into law of her bill called “The Sober Truth On Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP).”  The STOP Act, which is the first comprehensive national legislation to address this public health crisis, does the following:

• formally establishes an interagency committee to coordinate all federal underage drinking programs and research initiatives;
• makes permanent an Ad Council national media campaign directed at parents;
• provides grants to colleges and local communities to combat the problem;
• and authorizes federal funding for crucial research on its health effects on young people. 

During the presentation, Brandon Silveria told students his wrenching story of how as a high school student he had everything a teenager could want—a job, a girlfriend and plans for the future—until he had a few drinks at a party and chose to drive home.  After falling asleep at the wheel, crossing the centerline and crashing into a tree, he was left in a coma for three months and spent several years in rehabilitation.  Brandon was so badly injured that basic motor functions such as walking, talking and swallowing had to be re-learned.  He has permanent brain injury and suffers from dangerous seizures.  Brandon’s presentations continue to receive standing ovations from students across the country.

“What you become depends on the choices that you make,” said Brandon.  “When I was seventeen, I had a job and a girlfriend.  Because of my crash, I lost both of them.  My hope is that by sharing my experiences with other young people, I can prevent others from being hurt or killed.”

Through educational efforts such as the Silveria lecture and video program, The Century Council educates students across the country about the hazards of underage drinking and driving.  Brandon and his father, Tony, have addressed well over two million high school students nationwide and have been featured on such television programs as “Rescue 911,” NBC’s “Today,” as well as media outlets across the country. 

“In California, 1,699 youths under age 18 were arrested for driving under the influence, 5,033 youths were arrested for liquor law violations, and 4,190 youths were arrested for drunkenness (2006 FBI Uniform Crime Report),” said Dana Fudurich of The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking.  “Our goal with this presentation is to raise awareness about this serious problem, and by doing so, save lives in California. I’m pleased we were invited to Roosevelt High School this week and I am hopeful that Brandon and Tony’s words will resonate with the students.”

In recognition of Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s longstanding efforts to eliminate underage drinking, she has been nationally honored by many organizations, including The Century Council, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and Students Against Destructive Decisions.