According to parenting authorities, back-to-school season is an ideal time for parents to sit down with their children and discuss important issues such as underage drinking. Tomorrow, September 15th from 9-10:30pm EDT, Lonnie Carton, Ph.D., a nationally recognized family counselor, will host a live, online chat offering parents guidelines on how and when to talk with their children about drinking. Anheuser-Busch will host the forum via their online resource Web site for parents.

"Many parents have difficulty talking with their children about underage drinking, but research tells us that parents are the number one influence when children are faced with decisions about alcohol," says Dr. Carton. "It's essential that parents talk with their children about this subject, and what better time than back-to-school when kids begin extracurricular activities, attend parties, prepare for the big dance, and participate in other social activities with their friends."

Dr. Carton will discuss the important role parents can play, offer advice on how and when to talk with their children, and discuss how to encourage their children to make smart, responsible choices. Parents also will have the opportunity to learn Dr. Carton's 4 "Rs" of successful parenting. In addition, a new feature of the http://www.familytalkonline.com , "Ask Dr. Lonnie," will offer parents the opportunity to ask questions of Dr. Carton on a regular basis.

About Dr. Carton

Dr. Carton is a nationally recognized family therapist and the director of Family Support Services for Boston Partners in Education. She is also host of the syndicated radio feature, "Take a Minute for the Family," and author of No! Is A Love Word. Dr. Carton serves as a member of the Anheuser-Busch Family Talk About Drinking advisory panel and is one of the hosts of the popular Family Talk About Drinking video.

Dr. Lonnie Carton serves as director of Family Support Services for Boston Partners in Education. She is host of the nationally syndicated feature "Take a Minute for the Family" on the CBS-Radio network and author of NO is a Love Word!

Dr. Carton is a member of the Anheuser-Busch "Family Talk About Drinking" advisory panel and presenter of the Anheuser-Busch program for middle-school parents, "Stepping Into Adolescence."

Dr. Carton holds a doctorate in educational psychology from Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in child psychology from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University. She previously served as a professor of educational psychology at Tufts University. She is also a recipient of the National Media Award of the American Psychological Association in recognition of her advancement of psychology as a profession, science and means of promoting human welfare.

Dr. Carton and her husband live in Newtonville, Massachusetts, and have three grown children.

The Family Talk program was developed by authorities in the areas of education, family counseling, and alcohol treatment. The program encourages open, honest communication between children and parents on the issue of underage drinking. Created in 1990 by Anheuser-Busch, more than five million copies of Family Talk have been distributed nationwide. For more information on the Family Talk program, parents may visit http://www.familytalkonline.com . The Web site provides additional resources to help parents communicate effectively with their children, provides research and trends on underage drinking, and links to additional alcohol-abuse prevention information.

Since 1982, Anheuser-Busch and its team of 600 distributors nationwide have invested nearly $500 million in a comprehensive portfolio of more than two dozen community-based programs and national advertising campaigns to encourage responsible drinking and discourage alcohol abuse, including underage drinking and drunk driving.

To tune into Wednesday's online chat go to: FamilyTalkOnline.com

If you do, ask her about her 4 "Rs" Theory:

Right Information
Responsible Role Modeling
Regular Supervision
Reinforcement of Family Values

Since 1982, Anheuser-Busch has created a broad portfolio of programs to help fight alcohol abuse, especially underage drinking and drunk driving, and to promote responsible alcohol consumption by adults. In addition to FamilyTalkOnline.com, they have created:

BeeResponsible.com
DesignatedDriver.com
AlcoholStats.com
CollegeTalkOnline.com

For a direct link to all of these sites, go to: AnheuserBusch.com

Yesterday, Anheuser-Busch Foundation announced their were donating $1 million to hurricane relief efforts in the state of Florida. Governor Jeb Bush said, "Through the Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund, hurricane victims, both residents and their communities, will have the financial and moral support they need to face this challenge and move forward."

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, safe behind-the-wheel living -- in Florida and around the country!

~ Jennifer King