Alcohol abuse cuts across all ethnic, race, gender and economic boundaries. No one is immune. But the poor and the immigrant, many of whom are Hispanic in Colorado, suffer disproportionately because alcohol abuse more quickly depletes their resources. Many have little or no medical insurance, and alcohol related health problems can rapidly drag down entire families.

The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers. During the last decade these organizations have invested more than $110 million to develop and distribute free educational programs to fight alcohol abuse. Programs are available in both English and Spanish, and one of the most interesting has been La Promesa. In fact, The Century Council, with the approval of the Atlanta Archdiocese, recently reached out to 15,000 Altanta-area Spanish-speaking Catholics through La Promesa.

Census 2000 population figures found that seven of the top 10 states with the largest recent percentage increases in their Latino populations are in the South, with the number of Latinos in Georgia having quadrupled since 1990. Available through interested local parishes, the La Promesa program is an initiative that encourages parishioners to sign a pledge committing themselves to not drink and drive and to be responsible hosts. To date, more than 1 million Spanish-speaking parishioners have signed La Promesa in eight states.

"The Century Council has been committed to reaching out to the Spanish-speaking population since its inception in 1991. La Promesa is one of the programs that we offer in Spanish to encourage individuals to make responsible decisions, particularly before getting behind a wheel. We are very proud to provide the approximately 15,000 parishioners that participated in the La Promesa program with educational materials today in Atlanta," said Joy Matos, director of Hispanic Programs for The Century Council.

"The Spanish-speaking community in Atlanta is growing and we are always happy to identify programs to community members to help them make responsible decisions for the safety of themselves and their families. (Parishes in) the Atlanta Archdiocese (were) pleased to have the opportunity with The Century Council's La Promesa pledge to address the importance of not drinking and driving with our parishioners," said Gonzalo Saldana, director for Hispanic Apostolate.

As part of the La Promesa program, parishes generally weave a theme of responsibility into their pastoral life, and pastors can encourage their parishioners to sign the pledge at the conclusion of Mass or parish-wide information meetings. In addition to the pledge, parishioners receive La Promesa posters, key chains and Spanish point of sale materials designed to prevent underage purchases of alcohol.

La Promesa is certainly not the only effort out there to curb alcohol abuse, and pledges alone won't solve America's alcohol problems. But with a season of celebration drawing nearer by the day, La Promesa is a step in the right direction that could make a difference for some. It may be worth an inquiry. For further information call 202-637-0077 or visit www.centurycouncil.org.