ALCOHOL ABUSE

Anti-Drug Campaign Must Target Under-Age Drinking

Under-age drinking is the biggest drug problem facing American teen-agers.
But the nation's new campaign against drug abuse won't even mention alcohol.

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the director of national drug policy, says there are
reasons for ignoring alcohol.

He says focusing any part of the $195 million campaign on alcohol would get
in the way of the advertising campaign's main message-avoid illegal drugs.

McCaffrey also says the law that created his office gives him authority to
fight abuse of controlled substances, and that alcohol doesn't fit that
definition.

These arguments would be ridiculous coming from anyone, but they are
especially ridiculous coming from McCaffrey. He has done a good job on drug
policy.

Like so much in Washington, however, there is more going on here than is
immediately apparent.

The National Beer Wholesalers' Association is lobbying to prevent any ad
campaign that includes alcohol abuse.

So is the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, a nonprofit coalition of
advertising firms. In their for-profit lives, coalition members make money
promoting alcohol consumption.

Legislation is pending in Congress to make it clear that fighting teen
alcohol abuse is part of McCaffrey's job.

The legislation deserves support, despite intense lobbying efforts against
it by industry insiders.

Under-age drinking is often a gateway behavior to other drug abuse. A
campaign against drug abuse that doesn't target under-age drinking is of
limited value.