THERE'S SIMPLY NO SUCH THING AS 'RESPONSIBLE DRINKING'

Every year The Tribune prints hundreds of stories promoting alcohol. Free
publicity is given to beer festivals, wine-tasting events, how-to stories on
selecting wines or brewing one's own beer, etc.

I'm curious how you justify promoting our nation's No. 1 drug problem, a
problem that negatively impacts more than 40 million Americans, 6 million of
whom are maimed or seriously injured every year. The recent Lake Nacimiento
drowning is a typical example of the daily carnage.

Even when you try to shed some light on the seriousness of the problem, re:
The Tribune's front-page story, "Harder liquor, younger teens," you
inadvertently perpetuate one of the myths about alcohol and that beer and
wine are not as damaging as "hard" liquor. The reality is that a glass of
wine or a 12-ounce can of beer have the same amount and the same kind of
damaging alcohol as does a shot of whiskey or vodka.

Another myth, "responsible drinking," is an oxymoron created by the alcohol
industry. One might as well talk about "responsible use" of cocaine and
heroin. Use of an addictive drug can never be called "responsible." Teens
have quickly picked up on these myths to justify their own drug and alcohol use.

As editor, you can educate the public on how any alcoholic beverage affects
the drinker's health and/or life span. Knowing what the alcohol myths are
and cutting back on weekly promotions of the drug would be a good place to
start.

Norm Jackson, Santa Margarita