About the Program

Hanley Foundation’s Alcohol Literacy Challenge (ALC) program offers students facts about the physical effects of alcohol, compared to the mental beliefs that the alcohol industry wants us to believe, fostering the vital conversation about alcohol. Based on 40 years of research reported in nearly 1,000 published studies, the Alcohol Literacy Challenge is the first classroom-based alcohol prevention program to reduce underage and binge drinking in a single 50–90-minute lesson.

Goals of the Alcohol Literacy Challenge

The classroom-based program aims to alter alcohol expectancies and reduce the quantity and frequency of alcohol use among middle school, high school, and college students. The goals of Hanley Foundation’s Alcohol Literacy Challenge are to increase public knowledge and awareness about alcohol-related health issues, to reduce underage drinking, to promote responsible drinking behaviors among adults, and reduce abuse and misuse of alcohol.

ALC works to change attitudes and beliefs towards social norms surrounding drinking behavior, encouraging positive decision-making skills among young people and providing resources to communities. Through these efforts, ALC has been proven to reduce underage and binge drinking in just a single session. It is also cost-effective, taking far less time after the initial training and costing less per student than any other classroom youth alcohol prevention program.

Educational Opportunities & Details

This evidence-based program is presented annually to nearly 35,000 students across 28 Florida counties.

  • For Upper Grades: ALC is provided as (1) 90-minute lesson or (2) 45-minute lessons
  • For 5th and 6th Grades: ALC delivers a single 45-minute lesson

All ALC programs are age-appropriate and thoughtfully designed to encourage critical thinking and promote discussion.

Benefits of the ALC

The Alcohol Literacy Challenge supports schools and parents with a revolutionary classroom-based alcohol prevention program.

Save Time and Money 

Reach a substantially larger number of students in far less time compared to traditional alcohol prevention programs, which can take weeks of coursework. The ALC approach arms students with everything they need to know in one course, saving considerable time and money.

Easy Implementation 

During a single ALC lesson, students learn about standard drinks size, the range of alcohol expectancies, the difference between pharmacological effects and placebo effects, and the efforts by alcohol companies to portray positive expectancies in advertisements.

Culturally Appropriate 

The ALC program challenges preconceived notions surrounding alcohol, resulting in an introspective effect where the student is able to apply what they learn to their own lives and thus their own cultures, making it culturally appropriate regardless of ethnicity or upbringing.

Are you interested in using ALC?

Funding is available to provide free programming in many areas we serve. You may also license the curriculum to provide programming if we do not have funding in your area. Contact us to learn more about ALC Training and user options.

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