THE SILENCE ON UNDER-AGE DRINKING

An important public health cause suffered a setback recently when the House
Appropriations Committee killed a sensible plan to include anti-drinking
messages in Federal efforts to discourage youngsters from using illicit
drugs. The full Senate defeated a similar measure.

Disappointingly, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, President Clinton's director of
national drug policy, was among those arguing against the legislation. It
would have given his office the clear authority it now lacks to include
under-age drinking among the advertising campaign's targets.

General McCaffrey has said that under-age drinking is the biggest drug
problem among adolescents, and he does not dispute the evidence showing a
close link between early drinking and subsequent dependence on illicit drug
use. Nor does he question the need for a campaign warning teen-agers about
the dangers of drinking.

But like many lawmakers who voted against the bill, General McCaffrey said
he was concerned about "diluting" the campaign's basic anti-drug message.

The anti-drug campaign would be greatly strengthened by including ads
designed to dissuade teen-agers from the early drinking that can become a
gateway to other drugs.

If lawmakers believe there is not enough money in the budget to target
under-age drinking, they should provide more funding for the program rather
than impose an advertising blackout.