More than 40% of individuals who begin
alcohol consumption at age 13 or younger will develop alcohol
dependence. (suffer from Alcoholism)
-Source: Grant B.E.,
Dawson, DA, 1997. Age onset of alcohol use and association with DSM IV
alcohol abuse and dependence, Results from the National Longitudinal
StudyYoung people ages
12 to 20 saw two beer or ale ads in 2001 for every three such
commercials aired on programs viewed primarily by adults.
Louisiana has three of the top 92 markets
ranked by the number of alcohol ads on television:
- New Orleans ranked 56th -- 63,811
alcohol ads
- Shreveport ranked 66th -- 63,571
alcohol ads
- Baton Rouge ranked 91st -- 63,074
alcohol ads
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Under Age Drinking, Binge Drinking, Illegal
Drug Use by Minors.
Is there fair information and
warning on product's
connected by consumption, to Alcoholism?
Knowing that Alcoholism (Alcohol
Dependence) is a result of both a genetic predisposition (runs in the
family) and environmental factors, it continues to baffle us as to why
the policy makers of this country have not addressed both the labeling
of Alcoholic beverages (Warning that consumption may lead to
dependence), and why the Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages has also not
included warning information and educational information to allow those
who choose to drink, accurate information on the direct relationship
between consumption of alcohol and alcoholism (alcohol dependence).
Read More on responsible Labeling of
America's most Abused Drug, Alcohol.
Review of the Role the Alcohol Industries'
"Business" plays in our health and well being, and community
safety. The Alcohol Industry is in business, and therefore
practices reflect action to improve their shareholders value, not our
communities value, this report is very clear as to the role of the
Alcohol Industry, their Advertising, and Need to identify themselves in
some capacity as "Good corporate citizens" . The problem, is that
they appear to spend more money, and are directed at simply improving
public opinion and identifying that with their brand. Who can
fault them? That is what they are allowed to do.
The excellent job by the lobby has enraged many. Many are asking,
Why is this industry getting a break on taxation? Bread,
Milk, our income taxes, have increased over the years, but not
alcohol. This is good news for their industry, cheap products,
increase their revenues.The alcohol industry has become a major funder and
designer of prevention and education programs. Anheuser-Busch’s
sponsorship of social norms marketing, a new strategy for preventing
alcohol problems on college campuses, is a recent example (see page 3).
The beer giant’s support has triggered a healthy debate in the higher
education and public health communities. Does it taint the programs?
Given the company’s aggressive marketing to college students, should
universities refuse the funds? Will the funding undermine efforts to
restrict those marketing practices?
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Young people who consume hazardous quantities are
the alcohol industry’s most important customers.
Hazardous drinking, defined as 5 drinks or
more day, accounts for more than half the alcohol market and
76 percent of the beer market.
Underage drinkers are a substantial part of
the alcohol market and a key consumer group. There are
varying estimates of the underage drinking market. Eigen and Noble
(1994) 12
concluded that underage drinkers account for
approximately 10 percent of the alcohol market, or almost $10
billion annually. The Inspector General for the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services estimated in 1991 that students in 7th
through 12th grades annually consume 1.1 billion cans of beer and
about 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the United States.13
Most of this consumption
occurs in a hazardous fashion (five or more drinks in a single
session).
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The
alcohol production market is concentrated in a small number of large
companies.
A handful of large companies control
the market, and their numbers have steadily shrunk during two
decades of corporate mergers .Beer is by far the most concentrated
market, with only two companies, Anheuser-Busch and Philip Morris
(owner of Miller Brewing Company), accounting for two-thirds of all
beer sales. Together with these two, eight other alcohol companies
that sell beer, wine and distilled spirits, account for
approximately 70 percent of all US alcohol sales (measured in terms
of pure alcohol).8
The alcohol market generates huge sales and profits.
The alcohol industry
pursues an enormous market in the United States:
$115
billion in annual sales generate substantial profits for
producers, distributors andretailers.5
Anheuser-Busch Co., the largest brewer, reported a net income in
2000 in excess of $1.5 billion.6
As with any business, the alcohol industry’s primary focus is on
maximizing profits. As stated in the 1997 Anheuser-Busch
annual report: "Every action taken by ...management is guided by one
overriding objective -enhancing shareholder value."7
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Alcohol is a major
factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of
contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.
Approximately 11
million American youth
under age 21 drink alcohol.
source AMA FACTS
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Read the Full report. Reducing Underage
Drinking Through Coalitions A Matter of Degree
James F. Mosher, JD, author Pamela Glenn,
editor
Underage College Students’ Drinking Behavior,
Access to Alcohol, and the Influence of Deterrence Policies.
Read the Harvard Study
- Death: 1,400 college
students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from
alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle
crashes (Hingson et al., 2002).
- Drunk Driving: 2.1
million students between the ages of 18 and 24 drove under the
influence of alcohol last year (Hingson et al., 2002).
- Injury: 500,000
students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally
injured under the influence of alcohol (Hingson et al., 2002).
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A recent report
found that substance abuse and addiction will add at least $41
billion—10 percent—to the costs of elementary and secondary
education this year, due to class disruption and violence, special
education and tutoring, teacher turnover, truancy, children left
behind, student assistance programs, property damage, injury and
counseling.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia
University (CASA) |
AMA/RWJ based Prevention in Louisiana,
working with HopeNetworks, to assist in providing information and
education in the Prevention section we are in the process of
building.
Sharon AAyres
Louisiana Alliance to Prevent Underage Drinking
5700 Florida Boulevard, Ste. 604
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
PO Box 65242
225-216-0910 – Office
225-926-3842 – Fax
Email:
[email protected]
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