BEER ADS WORKING ON TEENS

The Chronicle April 8 article "Survey: Risk of drug use
rises in middle schools" hit right on target.

This survey, which was conducted by the national organization,
Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education (an organization which
counsels schools and parents on ways to inhibit drug use among youth),
confirms what many researchers have known: that alcohol (primarily
beer), cigarettes and inhalants are used far more by children than are
marijuana or harder drugs.

Spending billions of taxpayer dollars annually to protect our children
from illegal drugs is ludicrous while we allow legal drugs, such as
beer, to be advertised targeting children.

I am not promoting alcohol prohibition, but the prohibition of beer
advertising.

This is a move alcohol distillers have already made.

By the time a child turns 18 they would have seen literally thousands
of beer commercials presenting beer as not much more than a soft drink.

This new survey should be a wake-up call to parents: Demonize illegal
drugs all you want, but until we address the real problem facing our
children -- beer and beer advertising -- look for the present trends
to continue, no matter how often drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey cries
wolf concerning illegal drugs.

The survey speaks for itself.

Jimmy Green, Houston