In anticipation of the fall college sports season, many colleges have joined together to voice their concerns about alcohol advertising during NCAA sporting events.
They are especially concerned with the number of beer advertisements that air during televised sporting events.
Their concern stems from the startling statistics concerning underage drinking on college campuses, much of which is attributed to beer consumption.
In an effort to encourage the NCAA to review its policies on alcohol advertising, 109 colleges signed a letter of complaint to NCAA President Myles Brand on April 9.
According to the letter, the colleges (and 171 other colleges) believe that “alcohol advertising and college sports are a bad mix” and that “beer advertising during the games continues to undermine the many positive attributes of college sports.”
At this time, NCAA policies do not permit alcohol advertising, but do permit advertising for beverages with alcohol content of 6 percent or less (NCAA Alcohol Guidelines). Although the policies designate time limits on beer ads (60 seconds or less per hour or no more than 120 seconds per telecast), it appears that the NCAA has not consistently followed its policies and have permitted more than double the designated limits (Center for Science in the Public Interest).
If you are wondering why colleges are concerned, you need only look at the statistics: on college campuses, alcohol contributes to 70,000 sexual assaults and 1,700 deaths, underage drinkers consume between 10 and 20 percent of the alcohol in the United States, more than four in 10 students drink at “binge” levels and alcohol is a significant factor in the four leading causes of death among the 10 to 24 age category #- motor vehicle accidents, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide (www.BeerFreeSportsTV.org).
Research also shows that alcohol advertising is linked to more frequent and heavier drinking by teens.
In the letter sent to the NCAA, college officials refer to the “hypocrisy of airing commercials for the very product that causes college administrators, coaches and parents so much distress” and state that “alcohol ads demean the NCAA, student athletes, college prevention efforts, and help put young people at risk.”
We should all applaud the New York schools that co-signed the letter: Adelphi University, Alfred University, Cornell University, Nazareth College, State University of New York at Cortland, Geneseo, and Oneonta and St. Lawrence University. These colleges (and 272 other institutions) are willing to help in the fight to keep our kids safe.
For additional information about this issue and to read the letter to the NCAA, visit the Web site for the Center for Science in the Public Interest at www.cspinet.
Pat Gridley is a a member of the Parents And Community and Teens Together Board.
Their concern stems from the startling statistics concerning underage drinking on college campuses, much of which is attributed to beer consumption.
In an effort to encourage the NCAA to review its policies on alcohol advertising, 109 colleges signed a letter of complaint to NCAA President Myles Brand on April 9.
According to the letter, the colleges (and 171 other colleges) believe that “alcohol advertising and college sports are a bad mix” and that “beer advertising during the games continues to undermine the many positive attributes of college sports.”
At this time, NCAA policies do not permit alcohol advertising, but do permit advertising for beverages with alcohol content of 6 percent or less (NCAA Alcohol Guidelines). Although the policies designate time limits on beer ads (60 seconds or less per hour or no more than 120 seconds per telecast), it appears that the NCAA has not consistently followed its policies and have permitted more than double the designated limits (Center for Science in the Public Interest).
If you are wondering why colleges are concerned, you need only look at the statistics: on college campuses, alcohol contributes to 70,000 sexual assaults and 1,700 deaths, underage drinkers consume between 10 and 20 percent of the alcohol in the United States, more than four in 10 students drink at “binge” levels and alcohol is a significant factor in the four leading causes of death among the 10 to 24 age category #- motor vehicle accidents, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide (www.BeerFreeSportsTV.org).
Research also shows that alcohol advertising is linked to more frequent and heavier drinking by teens.
In the letter sent to the NCAA, college officials refer to the “hypocrisy of airing commercials for the very product that causes college administrators, coaches and parents so much distress” and state that “alcohol ads demean the NCAA, student athletes, college prevention efforts, and help put young people at risk.”
We should all applaud the New York schools that co-signed the letter: Adelphi University, Alfred University, Cornell University, Nazareth College, State University of New York at Cortland, Geneseo, and Oneonta and St. Lawrence University. These colleges (and 272 other institutions) are willing to help in the fight to keep our kids safe.
For additional information about this issue and to read the letter to the NCAA, visit the Web site for the Center for Science in the Public Interest at www.cspinet.
Pat Gridley is a a member of the Parents And Community and Teens Together Board.
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