All You Need to Know About Alcohol in 17 Minutes

Gr 8–10—Covering the long- and short-term effects of alcohol on the body, the consequences of drinking, the signs of alcoholism, fetal alcohol syndrome, and more, this program imparts a lot of information in just 17 minutes. What works best are the personal stories of people affected by alcohol consumption and the professionals, doctors, and a district attorney who talk about their own experiences. The images seem to attempt to simulate being drunk, which is disconcerting. Statistics, facts, and scientific explanations are given, but are not cited, such as the statement: "many teens have a serious alcohol problem." The conclusion lists several signs of alcoholism and recommends contacting Alcoholics Anonymous, but does not provide a website or 800 number onscreen. The teacher's guide is excellent, offering student activities, fact sheets, websites (not all of them indicate date accessed), hotlines, and a bibliography. Although the publisher indicates that the program is intended for middle school viewers, it features high school and college students. Take a pass on this one.—Kefira Philippe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL