September 9, 2003 REPORTS ON UNDERAGE DRINKING REPORTS HEADED TO CONGRESS
National Media Campaign Anticipated Proposed for to Addres ing Nation's Top #1 Youth Drug Problem Local Bay Area experts available to shed light comment on [Bay Area/M arin] implications of two long-anticipated reports:
Two long-anticipated reports to Congress will be released this week:
• “Reducing A National Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking : A Collective Responsibility ,” (Wednesday, September 10 th) from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is “… a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health . ” from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) The report calls on the alcohol industry to join in fund is expected to pr ing an independent foundation dedicated to reducing underage drinking, and proposes the first-ever national media campaign to combat the nation's number one youth drug problem among youth. A lcohol, the favorite drug of choice for youth, kills six times more young people than all illicit drugs combined. The federal government has thus far failed to mount a cohesive, well-funded effort to deal with alcohol abuse among youth similar to those campaigns that are effectively address ing youth tobacco and illicit drug use .
• A report from the The Federal Trade Commission's Advertising Practices Division (Tuesday, September 9 th ) has release d its examin ation of e 1) the impact of liquor-branded “Alcopop” advertising on underage consumers , and 2) and the effectiveness of industry voluntary advertising codes in avoiding underage audiences. Distilled spirits producers developed sweet “Alcopops” or “Malternatives” specifically for younger drinkers, and have advertised the products on television despite a voluntary ban on hard-liquor advertising on TV.
The Marin Institute , a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing alcohol problems, can connect you with Bay Area community organizations and young people working on these issues locally. The following local E e xperts working on these issues locally are available to comment on what the reports mean for the health of area youth, and what government and industry action the public can expect to see in the near future:
• Dr. Bonnie Halpern -Felsher, NAS Report Committee; Associate Professor, UCSF Medical School
• Laurie Leiber, Media Relations Manager, the Marin Institute
• Larry Meredith, Director, Marin County Department of Health and Human Services
• Mark Pertschuk, Executive Director, the Marin Institute
• Maureen Sedonaen, Executive Director, the Youth Leadership Institute
For the NAS report and a Webcast of the briefing (9/10/03 @ 7 am PST ) see http://national-academies.org.
The Marin Institute works to reduce alcohol problems through environmental prevention---a proven strategy to reduce alcohol problems---by promoting policies that require responsible actions by government, communities and the alcohol industry to advance public health and safety in Marin County, California and nationwide.
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