AHS Views

The European Union has called on the alcohol industry to stop targeting liquor sales to the youth of those nations. Over 100 colleges have written to the NCAA to have them stop taking TV ads for beer commercials during college events. While this isn’t going to end college drinking or the need for addiction help, it can’t hurt.

We know that Purdue Pharma was less then honest about the addictive nature of OxyContin. We also know that Merck wasn’t honest about the dangers of Vioxx. So can we trust Anheuser Bush, Bacardi, or Heineken to do something to curb college drinking like they have publicly pledged? Probably not is the true answer. Really, those companies are dancing every time they read statistics that 40% or more of our college kids binge drink. Do they cringe when they read the stats about the 15 million people in the U.S. who need addiction help?
 
There are at least two things they could do. One would be to withdraw from advertising in college newspapers. The other would be to withdraw from advertising during college sporting events.

One of these giants of industry could lead the way and perhaps the rest would follow suit. I am sure that the TV stations, newspapers and magazines could sell the ad space without a problem.

We shouldn’t have to tell Mr. Busch, Mr. Bacardi, Mr. Coors, or Mr. van Boxmeer (from Heineken) that they should be proactive in helping to stop alcohol abuse in college students. Neither a congressional hearing nor laws should be needed; Young kids getting addiction help services because of alcohol abuse is not a pretty picture. Maybe these gentlemen could look past their profits and do something to help.