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March 18, 2010

Newspaper should avoid glamorizing alcohol use

 

I enjoyed reading \"As hangout for young, alleys strike a chord\" (March 15) by Ray Routhier -- great focus on young hip folks having wholesome fun.

In fact, I know many folks mentioned in the article and think it is a blast you covered them and the good times they are having together.

However, in the future, would you consider not focusing on alcohol as the primary (or secondary, or tertiary, or ...) reason an activity is so much fun?

This focus was particularly egregious because of the title and the subsequent lead to the story. The headline, \"As hangout for young, alleys strike a chord,\" was immediately followed by, \"Pitchers of beer are everywhere.\" The article is then illustrated with two photos of youngish-looking players with beer at the ready.

For those who choose not to drink or parents who are trying to dissuade their teens not to drink, the odds of living just one day without being fed the glamorization of alcohol can be challenging.

The alcohol industry spends more than $5 billion in advertising each year, including ads and product placement in or on television, movies, magazines, radio, the Internet, sporting events and team sponsorships, and points-of-purchase products.

Please help us in our efforts to build a healthy community environment with policies, practices and attitudes that support the drug-free development of all youth.

In the future, please think twice before giving alcohol center stage.

Jo Morrissey

Portland

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