Alcohol Ads Out of Control – Even in Russia!

Oregon Partnership and other non-profits are warning that alcohol advertising is rampant (especially on TV) and the industry is always looking at ways to increase its reach to young people.   Maybe Russia has the right idea….according to this item from Join Together newsletter:

Alcohol advertising would be banned and sales limited by location and time of day under a plan endorsed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, CBC News reported Sept. 11.

 Medvedev called alcoholism in Russia a “national disaster” in unveiling plans that also include bans on sales of large containers of beer and prison sentences for those convicted of selling alcohol to youths under age 18.

 The new rules would go into effect before the end of the year. Experts say that more than half of all deaths in Russia are related to alcohol use.

Just what we don’t need – more alcohol advertising

It’s not exactly a news flash.  But the advertising of alcohol is at an all-time bender.  Beer manufacturers are sponsoring concerts, festivals and sporting events at an historic rate. Tune into cable channels, and you’ll see commercials for hard liquor – something that just a few years ago, was unheard of.

And don’t think the TV networks and local stations are watching this phenomenon closely.  After years of a self-imposed ban, the networks are sure to take advantage of this growing acceptance of hard liquor advertising. And when that happens, you’ll see more alcohol ads on TV than car ads.

And now, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission says it will re-examine a rule to ban restaurants and bars from advertising lower priced drinks at happy hours.  The OLCC says the rules are outdated, pointing to an absence of what should be allowed on websites and elsewhere in the on-line universe.  And besides, the OLCC claims, it doesn’t have the resources to enforce such rules.

Oregon Partnership’s position is clear and the evidence bears it out:  If you allow more advertising of alcohol prices – which now is pretty much banned by the OLCC to prevent highly-advertised price wars – more people will abuse alcohol.  And underage drinkers – who are especially price-sensitive – will take notice and take action.

If the rules need to be brought into the 21st century, OP says lets update them. But to say that we need more alcohol advertising – and to relax restrictions on advertising prices – is unwise and dangerous.

NCAA: Axe the Beer Commercials During March Madness

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, more than 280 colleges and universities – including the University of Portland – have called for an end to alcohol advertising on televised college sports.  But you’d never know it by watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

The brackets may change every year for March Madness, but not the drumbeat of beer commercials. 

Binge drinking among college students has elevated to a serious public health hazard and has become an increasing headache for university presidents feeling the pressure from communities, law enforcement and parents.  Isn’t it time that the NCAA rethink its acceptance of beer advertising and make a stunningly positive decision for a change?

Other sponsors would step in and make sure that Anheuser-Busch, Miller Lite, and Coors don’t make it into the Final Four every year.

Put a Spike through Spykes: Take new product off store shelves!

 Packaged in tiny 2-ounce, multi-colored bottles and containing 12 percent alcohol, Spykes is a new malt beverage product by Anheuser-Busch that shouldn’t be sold in Oregon or anywhere else. Spykes mixes malt liquor with ginseng, caffeine and guarana extracts. It comes in four sweet flavors: Spicy Lime, Spicy Mango, Hot Melons and even Hot Chocolate.

Because they are small and easily hidden in a pocket or backpack – and inexpensive at $.99 a bottle – we are asking that if you see them in stores, request that they be taken off the shelves. We are asking our local prevention partners to forward this on to parents and school officials. These products are not recognizable as alcohol and they can easily be hidden in pockets when attending school functions or other youth activities.

We are also encouraging consumers to write letters to Anheuser-Busch in protest. Here is their address:

August A. Busch III, Chair of the Board
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
One Busch Place
St. Louis, MO 63118-1852