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DrugScreening.org


 

Alcohol Ads Far Outnumber 'Responsibility' Messages, Group Says
July 21, 2005

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Research Summary

The average American youth sees hundreds more alcohol ads than spots promoting responsible use of alcoholic beverages, according to a new report from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY).

A CAMY study found that between 2001 and 2003, teens saw an average of 779 TV ads selling alcohol, but only 9 ads from alcohol companies that discouraged youth drinking. That's a ratio of 32-1, CAMY said, adding that alcohol companies spent $2.5 billion on product ads and just $92 million on responsibility ads between 2001 and 2003.

The study factored in such variables as the number of ads, their cost, placement, and audience exposed. "Responsibility" ads were those having a primary focus on drinking responsibly, drunk driving, or not drinking before age 21.

CAMY surveyed youths ages 12-20 for their report. Youths in this age group were 96 times more likely to see an alcohol product ad than a responsibility message, the report said.

"The alcohol industry's warnings to our kids not to drink until they are 21 are buried under an avalanche of alcohol ads that glamorize drinking," said David Jernigan, CAMY's research director. "This imbalance undermines the efforts of parents and teachers to warn our children against underage drinking."

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