TEEN-AGE ALCOHOL ABUSE SHOULD BE FOUGHT, TOO

I would like to thank The Sun for finally addressing the issue of underage
drinking (" `This is your brain on booze,' kids," June 1).

As a student, I am painfully aware of alcohol's effects. We have been lucky
enough at my school not to lose any students to drinking and driving or
alcohol poisoning, but alcohol abuse is still a major concern.

The tobacco industry has been forced to spend money on programs to
discourage children from starting to smoke. Why hasn't the alcohol industry
been made to make efforts to discourage young people from using its product
as well?

Alcohol is dangerous, too, and it is just as prominent as smoking in teenage
life, if not more so, as it's available in almost every home.

In the fight against drug abuse, I think it is reprehensible for the
government to pick and choose which drugs need more attention than others.

I am not advocating a return to Prohibition. But if the alcohol industry
wants to avoid more government regulation, it should voluntarily create an
ad campaign against alcohol abuse by people of all ages, but especially
teenagers.

Rebecca A. Hanifen, Luthervillle