ON RESTRICTING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ADVERTISEMENTS
WHEREAS, Each year the alcohol industry bombards
the American home with over $2 billion of advertisements and promotions
that glamorize drinking; and
WHEREAS, Over 100,000 deaths result from
alcohol-related problems each year; and
WHEREAS, The economic costs of alcohol-related
problems to the federal government exceed $20 billion annually;
and
WHEREAS, The primary means through which
Americans are encouraged to consume alcoholic beverages is the
media; and
WHEREAS, The television advertising of alcoholic
beverages often portrays the use of these products in a glamorous
light and identifies such products with popular sporting events
and sports figures, which has an unusually powerful and persuasive
effect on youth; and
WHEREAS, Most American children will see
thousands of television commercials for beer, not counting other
alcoholic beverages, before they are old enough to buy alcoholic
beverages; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern
Baptist Convention meeting in Saint Louis, Missouri, June 11-12,
2002, decry the irresponsible manipulation in television advertising
which influences young people and others to use alcohol; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That we express strong support for
legislation which would require rotating health messages in alcoholic
beverage advertisements when-ever and wherever such advertisements
are broadcast on radio and television or are printed in books,
brochures, magazines, newspapers and promotional displays; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage The Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission to continue its work for the passage
of legislative on alcoholic beverage advertisements; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we urge President George Bush
and both houses of the U.S. Congress to support publicly and vigorously
such legislation; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage all Baptists to
write or call their Representatives and Senators, asking them
to become sponsors of such legislation.
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