Remove Alcohol Ads from the "T"

Boston-area youth depend on the MBTA (the "T") to get to school, and every day they are exposed to alcohol ads on MBTA property. Research shows exposure to alcohol ads leads to increased underage drinking. A recently released National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) study concluded that greater exposure to alcohol ads contributes to an increase in drinking among underage youth.

Green Line trolleys "wrapped" entirely with eye-popping beer and liquor ads run straight through residential neighborhoods and college campuses, exposing thousands of kids and underage college students to irresponsible alcohol industry messages, even if they aren't on board. Bud Lite ads with a scantily-clad young woman blanket the entire wall inside red line cars, sending the wrong message to countless kids riding the train to school. Enormous beer banners hang from the ceiling and adorn every wall in South Station, a prime destination for tourist familes with children.

Eighty-two percent of Boston youth say they want the T to remove alcohol ads. The MBTA says that it needs the revenue to keep public transportation running, but alcohol ads make up only a fraction (.1%) of "T" revenues. Our children's health and future is worth more than that.

The "T" prohibits advertising for tobacco and weapons – it's time its leadership steps up to protect Massachusetts kids by banning alcohol ads.

Tell the MBTA that public transit is no place to promote alcohol.

About the MBTAA Collaborative

Each school day, Scott leaves his house in Hyde Park and walks to the bus stop.

He waits for the #32 bus in a bus shelter constructed with wall-sized advertisements for Trinity Oaks wine. When the bus arrives, it sports a Coors Lite billboard, and when he gets on he sees several more beer ads lining the inside.

Scott arrives at Forest Hills "T" station, where he transfers to the subway. While he waits for the Orange Line train, Scott scans the wall-mounted billboard ads, including one for Tanqueray gin. When the train arrives, Scott boards it, and looks up at the ads lining the subway car to find that every single one is for Budweiser beer. Scott rides the subway to Roxbury Crossing, the station closest to his school, where he sees a Johnny Walker whisky ad.

Scott has absorbed a lot of information on his way to school. What has he learned?

It’s time for the MBTA to stop sending the wrong message to Scott and our community youth.

Speak up and ask Dan Grabauskas to remove alcohol ads from the MBTA now!