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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2003
Contact:
Misty Moyse, MADD, (469)420-4545
Barbara Harsha, GHSA, (202)789-0942
MADD, GHSA Say FTC Report Shows Some Improvement, but Alcohol Marketers Still Brewing for Kids' Attention
Statement for Attribution to: Wendy J. Hamilton, National President, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Kathryn Swanson, Governors Highway Safety Association
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Underage drinking is the No. 1 youth drug problem in America – killing 6.5 times more young people than all the other illicit drugs combined and costing our country an estimated $58 billion each year. A new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report released today shows once again what the public health community already knows: targeted advertising practices of the alcohol industry reach far too many kids in our nation.
While alcohol ads may be reaching audiences where at least 50 percent is 21 or older, we say half is not good enough when you are talking about our kids. America's youth see more TV ads for beer than for sneakers, jeans, gum, juice or other popular youth products. Although we recognize that there are numerous contributing factors to youth alcohol use, it is clear that far too many irresponsible alcohol ads reach children. If alcohol companies are meeting their own standards yet teens are still drinking at near epidemic proportions and countless surveys show youth are still overexposed to alcohol advertising, then maybe it is time to take a serious look at the standards and ask who they are protecting.
Alcohol companies must do more to limit youth exposure to alcohol beverage ads and limit youth access to alcohol. We agree that everyone must play a role in keeping alcohol out of kid's hands. In fact, MADD's Youth In Action teams work with the community and law enforcement to do just that. But parents, activists and law enforcement can't do it alone when youth are constantly bombarded with messages about alcohol in an environment that often looks the other way when it comes to teen drinking
We hope that this report, along with the National Academy of Sciences report on underage drinking prevention, expected to be released tomorrow, will incite long overdue debate and action on this critical issue. MADD and GHSA call on Congress to hold hearings on underage drinking prevention, including the advertising practices of the alcohol industry. The safety of America's youth must be put ahead of the alcohol industry's efforts to build brand loyalty and increase their bottom line.
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The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)® is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.