It can be easy to get so inundated with reports on alcohol-related harm to people around the globe, that another side of the Big Alcohol behemoth gets overlooked – the vast destruction caused to land, water and air by producing the alcohol products themselves.

Recently, Fox News published an expose on the environmental havoc being wrecked by tequila producers such as Brown-Forman, Fortune Brands, and as many as 146 others.  Their "dirty little secret" is that for every liter of tequila they make, producers dump ten timesthat amount of liquid waste plus five to six kilogramsof solid waste – often illegally.

This is no ordinary compostable farm waste: it is an acidic alcoholic leftover known as vinaza, which leaves the soil impermeable, seeps into the water supply, and “destroys everything in its path.” It has turned the once-picturesque town of Tequila into a hot, stinking mess.

As Big Alcohol works to ensure through its global marketing campaigns, massive tequila production (and the toxic consequences) isn’t going away any time soon. Believe it or not, tequila is now the number one export in Mexico, and solutions to its environmental destruction are in short supply. And there is nothing sexy about that.

DEREGULATION

Hawaii

Senate Resolution 38
Summary:Requests that the Honolulu Liquor Commission reevaluate penalties levied against licensees that serve alcohol in large public facilities because licensees are in a quandry as to how to alleviate the threats of penalties for improper service of alcohol to minors.
Sponsor(s): Senators Will Espero (D-District 20) and Pohai Ryan (D-District 25)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 65
Summary:Requests that the Honolulu Liquor Commission reevaluate penalties levied against licensees that serve alcohol in large public facilities because licensees are in a quandry as to how to alleviate the threats of penalties for improper service of alcohol to minors.
Sponsor(s): Senators Will Espero (D-District 20) and Pohai Ryan (D-District 25)

Mississippi

ADVERTISING

Mississippi

  
South Dakota

English

Spanish

Twelve States Stuck at Bottom of Beer Tax Barrel

While deficits mount, 6 states haven’t raised beer taxes in 50 years or more

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 16, 2011) – Marin Institute, the alcohol industry watchdog, launched its Neglected & Outdated Beer Taxes Map today.This new interactive tool helps those who want to raise beer tax rates to balance state budgets or erase deficits.

“Just point your cursor at a state and you can see the your current beer tax rate, the year of your last tax increase, and the loss of revenue from inflation,” said Bruce Lee Livingston, Marin Institute executive director and CEO. “We show the twelve states that have hit the bottom of the barrel in beer tax revenues and are the most overdue for an increase.”

The beer tax map quickly reveals states suffering the most from Big Beer’s influence. These are states that have beer taxes stuck at absurdly low rates set as long ago as the 1940s, and even the 1930s. “With almost every state struggling to find new dollars to fund critical programs, policymakers need to stop leaving beer tax revenue on the table,”said Sarah Mart, research and policy manager at Marin Institute.

The web site shows the twelve states with the "worst" beer tax rates in the nation, the “bottom of the beer barrel”: Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Six states (Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming) have not raised their beer tax in 50 years or more.

The worst state is Wyoming, which has the distinction of the lowest tax rate - $0.02 per gallon - set in 1935, during FDR’s first term. Factoring for inflation, the value of Wyoming’s beer tax has decreased 94%. A simple 5 cents per drink increase in the state’s beer tax would yield $7.75 million in new revenue. Considering that Wyoming’s annual budget shortfalls are projected to hit $5 million by 2013, a modest beer tax increase would erase all budget shortfalls in the state, reduce drinking, and increase health and safety a little.

The map shows thatIn 47 states, the decrease in real value of the beer tax due to inflation ranges from 25 percent to more than 75 percent. “This is such a lose-lose scenario for the states,” added Mart. “States are losing revenue and cutting essential programs, especially those which mitigate alcohol-related harm, while the beer companies reap higher and higher profits. It’s time for states to stop their race to the bottom and raise beer taxes.”

For more information on beer taxes in your state, please visit: MarinInstitute.org.

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Want to know what the beer tax rate was in your state during the FDR Administration? If you're from Wyoming, you won't have to look hard since the tax rate has not changed there since 1935. While Wyoming may win the prize for having neglected its beer taxes the longest, as Marin Institute research shows, an astonishing 20 states that have not increased their taxes in 30 years or more.

Want to see how your state fared in our analysis? This map shows how long it’s been since the beer tax rate was increased in each state. And this map shows how much inflation has diminished the value of each state's tax since the year it was last raised. We’ve also created the table below to chronicle all the data we've compiled, state by state, including current beer tax rates.

In six states the beer tax has not increased in 50 years or more. Shame on you Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming. And in an astonishing 47 states, the decrease in real value of the beer tax due to inflation ranges from 25 percent to more than 75 percent. This translates to real dollars left on the table that these states are in dire need of, right now. Meanwhile, as states fail to keep up with the times, beer companies continue to enjoy profits year after year. (See: Anheuser-Busch InBev makes $1.28 billion 4Q profit in 2009.)

With almost every state in the nation struggling to find revenue to fund much-needed programs, isn't it time for policymakers to increase the beer tax rate in your state?

Years Since Last Increase Erosion Due to Inflation

The table below provides the underlying data for the maps.

This page tracks global news and legislation regarding alcohol harm.  It is updated weekly with relevant news stories from around the world.

• Diageo Targets 230 Million Pound Push in African Sales (April 2011)
• Zambian National Survey: Youths Influenced by Alcohol Marketing, Education not Effective (April 2011)
• South Africa: Zuma Back New Booze Law (March 2011)
• South Africa: Government Mulls Stronger Liquor Laws (March 2011)
• South Africa: Liquor Act Serves Mostly Poor, Not Vested Interests (December 2010)

• SABMiller in $39 Million Indian Tax Fight (April 2011)
• Oman's Chief Cleric Urges Government to Ban Alcohol and Keep Close Watch on Gyms, Health Clubs (March 2011)
• China's Biggest Brewery Phases in Price Rises (March 2011)
• Beer to be Classified as Alcohol for First Time in Russia (February 2011)
• Agressive Marketing Raises Alcohol Consumption in Thailand (January 2011)
• India: Wife Beating Drops By 35% After Hooch Ban (January 2011)
• Russia Vodka Drinkers Face Price Hike on Cheap Bottles (November 2010)
• Alcohol Consumption in Russia is Double WHO Limit (November 2010)
• China to Account for More than 1/4 of 2015 Beer Consumption (November 2010)
• India: Change is Brewing As More Indians Hoist a Glass (July 2010)
• Russia Considers Doubling Minimum Vodka Price (June 2010)

• Australia: Drink Bans Introduced to Tackle Alcohol-Fueld Violence (April 2011)
• Australia: Four Million Drink to Get Drunk: Study (April 2011)
• New Zealand: Alcopop Maker Less in the Red (April 2011)
• Australia: Minimum Alcohol Price a Must, Says Gouda (April 2011)
• New Zealand: Wineries Wary of Crackdown (March 2011)
• FOI Request Shows Hike in Victorian Alcohol-Related Violence and Sickness (February 2011)
• Australia: Tackling Alcohol Misuse Is Everyone's Responsibility (December 2010)
• Australia: More Neighborhood Liquor Stores Brings More Violence (December 2010)
• New Zealand Reconsiders Laws Liberalizing Sale of Alcohol (December 2010)
• Australia: Alcopops Makeover Arouses Passions (November 2010)
• New Zealand: Liquor Law Passes First Hurdle (November 2010)
• Alcohol Abuse Costs Australia $36bn a Year (August 2010)
• New Zealand: Kiwi Liquor Laws Get a Shake-Up (August 2010)

• No Price Hike Coming: New Brunswick Liquor (March 2011)
• Remington: Raise a Glass to Cheaper Booze in Saskatchewan (March 2011)
• Privatizing NB Liquor: A Sobering Second Thought (January 2011)
• Canada: Alcohol Ad Revenue Has Social Costs (January 2011)
• Privatizing Liquor Sales Results in More Alcohol-Related Deaths (January 2011)
• Canada: Price of Power Beer Spikes in Alberta(December 2010)
• Canada: Alberta Cracks Down on High-Octane Beer (December 2010)

• Latvia: Excise Tax on Liquor and Gasoline to Increase One Month Earlier(April 2011)
• Sweden: IOGT-NTO Files Complaint Regarding Alcohol Advertisement (April 2011)
• Ireland: Belfast to Set Minimum Alcohol Price (March 2011)
• Finland: Political Gulf Kills Off Legislative Initiative on Restrictions on Alcohol Advertising(March 2011)
• Alcohol Consumption in Finland Declined for Third Year in Succession (February 2011)
• European Union Mulls Booze Warning Labels (October 2010)
• Ireland: Diageo Secures 10-Year Deal with Budweiser (August 2010)
     

Latin America

• Tequila's Dirty Secret: Its Causing A Major Environmental Problem in Mexico (February 2011)
      

• Too Close? The Drink Industry's Unsteady Deal with Government (April 2011)
• Alcohol Brands Slam "Grossly Inaccurate" Report on Kids Marketing (March 2011)
• Lord Advocate Warns of Scotland Alcohol 'Apocalypse'(March 2011)
• Corney & Barrow Ad 'Irresponsible' (March 2011)
• Scots Drink Four More Bottles of Spirits a Year than in 1990s (March 2011)
• Police Chief Accuses Industry of Being 'In Denial' Over Pricing Issues (March 2011)
• Manchester Alcohol Proposals 'Probably Illegal' (March 2011)
• Teens from Wealthier Families May Drink More (March 2011)
• Health Lobby Slams Goverment Alcohol Plans (March 2011)
• Consumption of Sprits Jumps, Beer Falls (March 2011)
• Charity: Restrict Alcohol Displays in Stores (March 2011)
• Thousands Are "At Risk of Alcohol Death" Say Doctors (February 2011)
• Alcohol Policy in Tatters as Health Experts Revolt (February 2011)
• Alcohol Puts More Young Adults Into Hospital (January 2011)
• Alcohol Minimum Cost Not High Enough to Deter Drinkers (January 2011)
• Scotland: Call to End Drink Sales at Self-Service Tills (January 2011)
• Scotland: The Low Price Made Us Do It, Say Problem Drinkers (December 2010)
• Tax Crackdown on Super Strength Beers (December 2010)
• Ministers Set Minimum Price for Wine, Beer and Spirits (Novemeber 2010)
• Scotland: Glass is Half Empty for SNP Booze Plans (Novemeber 2010)
• Backing for Bylaw Minimum Pricing (November 2010)
• Booze Puts One Briton In Hospital Every 7 Minutes (October 2010)
• Charity Calls for Ban on Primetime Alcohol Ads (October 2010)
• Call to Ban Alcohol Advertising Rubbished (October 2010)
• Warning Over Cheap Alcohol (October 2010)
• Fair Trade Wine Tipped to Be the Next Big Thing In Ethical Alcohol (September 2010)
• Boozy Britain Grapples with Bottle (August 2010)
• Public Health Added to Licensing Shake-Up (August 2010)
• Scotland: MSPs Reject Minimum Pricing (June 2010)
• Morrison Backs Minimum Alcohol Pricing (June 2010)

• Scotland charity warning on alcohol policy (January 2012)
• Qatar, unveiling tensions, suspends sale of alcohol (January 2012)
• Ireland: Parties support minimum pricing for drink (January 2011)
• New Zealand: Critical survey on alcohol reforms suppressed (December 2011)
• Kenya: Mututho calls for liquor ban (September 2011)
• Finland study urges ban on strong beers in stores (September 2011)
• New Zealand government considers further alcohol regulations (August 2011)
• India: Maha Raises Drinking Age to 25 Years (June 2011)
• Ontario to Relax Liquor Laws by Summer (May 2011) 

• Job Loss, Creation Fuels Debate on Alcohol Sales (January 2011)

Massachusetts

• Alcohol Sales Tax Lifted in Massachusetts (January 2011)
• Big Alcohol Buys Sales Tax Repeal in Massachusetts (November 2010)

New York

• New York: State Legislature Says No to Wine in Grocery Stores (August 2010)

North Carolina

• Privatizing North Carolina ABC Stores Not So Simple (January 2011)
• Sobering Reality: North Carolina May Privatize Booze Retail (January 2011)
• Religious Group Lobbies Against Privatizing Liquor·(January 2011)
• Statesville Leaders Vote Against Privatizing ABC (January 2011)
• Don't Privatize the ABC System (December 2010)
• County ABC Chairman Vows to Fight Privatization (December 2010)
• Should North Carolina's ABC Stores Go Private? (December 2010)
• North Carolina: City Council Says Alcohol Control System Fine (December 2010)

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania: House uncorks liquor privatization debate (November 2011)
• Young says Pennsylvania PFM Report should 'end farce' of privatization (October 2011)
• Prospect of selling off Pennsylvania's liquor stores cools (October 2011)
• Pennsylvania State Representative: Selling liquor stores won't benefit state (September 2011)
• Pennsylvania auditor slams plan to sell state liquor stores (September 2011)
• State Store Managers Union Denounces Liquor Vending Machines (April 2011)
• Hard Liquor Coming Soon to Vending Machines at Supermarkets (April 2011) 
• Democrats Doubt Liquor Stores Will be Sold to Private Sector (April 2011)
• Public Is Not Best Served By Privatization (April 2011)
• LCB Privatization Foes Unleash New Tool In Debate (April 2011) 
• Privatizing State Stores Dangerous, Fiscally Irresponsible (April 2011)

• Pennsylvania Liquor Store Backers Plead Case (March 2011)
• Consultant Hired to Study Liquor Stores (March 2011)
• Corbett Pushes Privatization of Pennsylvania Liquor Stores (March 2011)
• LCB Offers Modernizing Ideas to Counter Privatization (March 2011)
• Privatizing State Stores Will Increase Problems (March 2011)
• Privatizing State Stores Would Jeopardize the Public Good (March 2011)
• Corbett Proposes Panel to Study Privatizing LCB (March 2011)
• Foes of Privatizing State Stores Build Their Campaign (March 2011)
• Pennsylvania Dems Resist Push to Privatize Liquor, Wine (February 2011)
• Pennsylvania Senators Hear Liquor Privatization Arguments (February 2011)
• Value of State Controlled Liquor Sales Sharply Debated (February 2011)
• Kevin Murphy: Selling Liquor Stores Won't Benefit State (February 2011)
• Corbett Hints at More Privatization to Balance the Books (February 2011)
• Public Hearings to Start on State Liquor Stores (February 2011)
• No Need to Privatize Liquor Stores (February 2011)
• Former LCB Officials: Liquor Store Privatizations Complex (January 2011)
• Union for State Liquor Store Workers Fights Privatization (January 2011)
• Privatizing Could Help Budget, But True Costs Unknown (January 2011)
• State Stores Won't Fix the Budget (January 2011)
• Rendell Offers Liquor Sale Views (January 2011)
• A Push to Privatize Pennsylvania Liquor Stores (December 2010)
• LCB's Epic Run Might be Near End (December 2010)·
• Pennsylvania: Corbett Faces Tough Sell in Privatizing State Stores (November 2010)
• Pennsylvania: Commentary on State Store Privatization (July 2010)

Utah

• Utah Could Lose Tax Dollars Through Liquor Privatization (August 2010)

Virginia

• Tea Party Groups Endorse Liquor Privatization (January 2011)
• Virginia's Current ABC System Doesn't Need to be 'Fixed' (January 2011)
• Democrats to Introduce McDonnell's Liquor Bill in House·(January 2011)
• Research Adds Twist to Virginia Liquor Debate (January 2011)
• McDonnell Says ABC Bill Has House Sponsor ·(January 2011)
• McDonnell Releases New ABC Proposal (January 2011)
• McDonnell Proposal Would Privatize Virginia Liquor Stores (January 2011)
• Second Time the Charm for Liquor Plan? (January 2011)
• The ABC's of Liquor Privatization (December 2010)
• Group Says Virginia ABC Effort Driven by Alcohol Industry (September 2010)
• Critics See More Problems with ABC Privatization (September 2010)
• Virginia Ponders Losing ABC Stores; Studies Conflict on Privatizing (September 2010)
• Studies Find State Control of Alcohol Protects Public Health (September 2010)
• Virginia Governor McDonnell's Postulations on Privatization (August 2010)

Washington

• Craft distillers fret over new liquor laws in Washington State (January 2012)
• Costco perspective: $19M well spent (December 2011)
• Washington State: 2nd lawsuit filed vs. Costco's liquor plan (December 2011)
• Litigation files in Washington State challenging recently passed I-1183 (December 2011)
• Small wine shops feel shut out with passage of Initiative 1183 (November 2011)
• Washington State: Liquor and long-term care initiatives leading in new poll (October 2011)
• Washington: We're better off without I-1183's liquor privatization (October 2011)
• Multiple liquor ideas only serving to confuse the voters (October 2011)
• Cash haul in Washington liquor initiative battle tops $18 million (October 2011)
• Costco pours another $3 million into liquor initiative (October 2011)
• 2 bidders want to control Washington State liquor distribution (October 2011)

• Washington State: Liquor initiative creates far more problems than it solves (September 2011)
• Washington State Poll: Costco liquor privatization initiative loses ground (September 2011)
• Washington State: First responder sees deadly effects of alcohol, opposes liquor initiative (September 2011)
• Olympia, Washington grapples with liquor, money and minutia (August 2011)
• New poll shows Washington State voters split on liquor, tolling initiatives (August 2011)
• Washington group gives $3.6 million to fight liquor change (August 2011) 

• Liquor Bill Gets Hearing (May 2011)
• Gregoire: Liquor Privatization Proposals 'Don't Pan Out' (April 2011)
• CDC to States: Don't Privatize Alcohol Sales (April 2011)
• Liquor Plan Could be Short-term Fix, Long-term Problem (April 2011)
• Gregoire Leery of House Liquor Privatization Idea (April 2011)

• Foes: Costco Liquor Privatization Bad for State (April 2011)
• Would Private Liquor Distribution Make State Money? (April 2011)
• Details of Liquor Privatization Proposal Leaking Out (April 2011)
• Treasurer, Bars Balk at Liquor Privatization Plan (April 2011)
• Democrats Reveal Plan to Fill $5.1 Billion Hole (April 2011)
• State Making Sensible Changes in How it Handles Liquor Sales (March 2011)
• New Washington Liquor Privatization Initiative Filed (March 2011)
• Proposal: $300 Million for Right to Run State Liquor Warehouse (March 2011)
• Despite Initiative Defeat, Costco Still Pushing Liquor Privatization (February 2011)
• Liquor Privatization Referendum Introduced (January 2011)
• Debate Over Liquor Sales Far From Over (December 2010)
• Perhaps 'No' Really Meant 'No' on Liquor Sales (December 2010)
• Washington Liquor Privatization: Voters Delivered a Clear Message·(December 2010)
• Privatizing Alcohol Sales Could Cost Washington State $500M (August 2010)
• Retailer Coalitions Rising to Support Privatization in Two Control States (July 2010)
• Washington: Distiller: Privatized Booze Sales Won't Mean Lower Prices (July 2010)
• Costco Infuses Alcohol Initiative with More Cash (June 2010)
• Costco and Liquor: Good or Bad for Washington? (June 2010)
• Costco Using Employees To Take Control of Spirits in Washington (June 2010)

The Walgreens pharmacy chain has been on a boozy tear through the last two years.  First, they lifted their 15-year self-imposed ban on alcohol sales in their stores so that old grandmothers and young shoplifters alike can walk out with a bottle of booze to go with their cough syrup and candy.  Then, after Walgreens bought the Duane Reade chain, they decided that the best way to beat local businesses’ loyalty in Brooklyn was to add a beer bar and tasting service – a perk that the neighborhood pharmacy obviously couldn’t compete with.

Now they’ve raised the danger bar to yet another level – launching their own line of cheapo beer, priced to fly off the shelves.  At just 50 cents a can or $2.99 a six pack, the Walgreens “Big Flats 101” brand is already available at more than half of its almost 8,000 stores.  While the quality has been panned by reviewers and even Stephen Colbert for its “skunk odor” and headache-inducing qualities, few people doubt the allure of the rock-bottom pricing.  As one article put it, “Two beers for a buck at Walgreens: the craziest thing to happen to drinking since Four Loko.” 

Of course Walgreens isn’t going for quality.  According to Zoe Fox at Time, their unspoken agenda is to “redefine the cheap in ‘cheap drunk.’” By making it possible to get a 24-pack for just $11.50, Walgreens makes it super easy for young people to get drunk around the clock—or to get the biggest bang out of their allowance or financial aid checks. Either way, this should not be the behavior of “The Pharmacy America Trusts.”

As if boozed up whipped cream in flavors such as chocolate, cherry, and orange wasn’t appealing enough to kids, now in Wisconsin they can just buy a can of it for themselves, at the grocery store, LEGALLY.

Despite containing an alcohol content of 15% (same as in Bailey’s Irish Cream or Bacardi Mojito), Wisconsin state regulators have taken the position that alcohol-infused whipped cream is not subject to the state’s alcohol beverage control laws or alcohol taxes because it is a “food” product and not an alcoholic beverage.

Apparently the federal government missed the product maker’s MySpace page urging use as a topping on Jello shots when deciding to approve this insane product for sale nationally. But why would Wisconsin officials go one step further to make it easier for kids to get their hands on the fun-filled cans? They claim Wisconsin law only defines alcohol as a “beverage.” But we think that reasoning defies logic and common sense.

So we sent a letter to our friends in the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to tell them so. We copied the letter to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, which seems to think the product should be regulated as a food. Maybe we can knock some sense into someone there. It’s not like Wisconsin is exactly a positive role model for states when it comes to alcohol problems. And isn’t that the state that also allows kids to drink in bars with adults? Right.

Want to know what the beer tax rate was in your state during the FDR Administration? If you're from Wyoming you won't have to look hard, since the tax rate has not changed there since 1935. While Wyoming may win the prize for having neglected its beer taxes the longest, most other states also have extremely low beer tax rates and have lost much of their beer tax rates' real value.

The map below shows the current beer tax rate for each state, along with the year the rate was last increased, and how much inflation has diminished the value of each state's tax since the year it was last raised.

The solution, of course, is to raise the beer tax, and index it to inflation to protect against future losses. With almost every state in the nation struggling to find revenue to fund much-needed programs, it's time for state policymakers to increase the beer tax rate.

Bottom of the Beer Barrel: 12 States With Worst Tax Rates

About the Worst Beer Tax Data
The table above provides the underlying data for the twelve states with the "worst" beer tax rates in the nation. To find these states, three criteria were used: current tax rate (per gallon), the year of last increase, and the percent decrease in real value. Three states: Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky ranked at the bottom of the list for all three criteria. Seven states: Idaho, North Dakota, West Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia ranked in the bottom for two of the criteria (current tax rate and decrease in real value). An additional two states, Wisconsin and Missouri, complete the list of the five states with the lowest beer tax rates. The amount of potential revenue from increasing each state's tax rate by 10 cents per drink was generated using the Marin Institute Alcohol Tax Calculator.

Years Since Last Increase
What you could buy for $1.00 in 1950 would cost you $8.93 in 2008. This is because over time, inflation causes prices to rise. However, beer taxes are not linked to inflation. Instead, they remain constant until they are increased through policy action. Some states have not updated their excise tax rate for decades, which means inflation has taken a huge bite out of its value. More than half of the states have not increased their excise tax rate in twenty years or more. Because of this, state tax revenue collections suffer.

Data Sources
1. Year of last increase, as of 2010. 
2. Excise tax rates were deflated using annual CPI data through 2009, the most recent year for which annual inflation data were available.
3. State beer excise tax rates and historical changes were obtained from the Brewer's Almanac and Adams Beer Handbook.
4. Marin Institute Alcohol Tax Calculator

2011

Winners Statements & Photos

Rami Al-odaini (17)
Ads For Kids
San Rafael, CA
1st Place Winner
I think that the media is an influentially powerful tool, especially on kids and teens. And the reason I made this commercial was partially because as an artist I think that I’m a form of media, and this was a way for me to use my skills in music and filming for a good cause. I’m personally not a big fan of the Super Bowl, but I sure do believe that alcohol ads attract a lot of teens. What I am saying is that we need to look into our society and see where we stand today. The facts are clear, these ads play a big roll in what’s happening with young age drinking, and we need to take a step just like we did with tobacco ads.

Jasper Lown (14)
Token of Lies
Wheaton, IL
2nd Place Winner
I first discovered the Free The Bowl video competition in 2010, while browsing among other online video competitions. FTB immediately stood out to me as unique, because it rewarded young filmmakers for exercising their creative talents, while having the opportunity to spread a positive message to others of their age group. I strongly believe that advertisements targeting such a vulnerable market ought to be pulled off the air.

Oscar Chan (20)
Wherever I Go!
San Francisco, CA
3rd Place Winner
The purpose of this video is to show that the Super Bowl has to be fun and you don't need a can of beer to make it fun. I entered the contest because I think it's important let others know that the ads that influence you since you are a kid/teenager do so to achieve a better outcome for the companies who pay for the ads. I wanted to say that the way ads are made today negatively affect our society and we have to fight against this.

Thong Lor (14)
No Beer
Westville, OK
3rd Place Winner
What inspired me to make my video was that drinking causes trouble and never has any good consequences.  So many have been affected by all sorts of alcohol-related harm and all it does is tear family and friends apart. Alcohol does not come with a time machine to turn things back because in the first place, it doesn’t produce a clean, clear brain. Laws do help reduce some damages of alcohol abuse but I believe making this video will send a message to those in need of guidance to turn your cheek against alcohol and not promote beer.

Lewie Kloster (16)
Noah Knows The Score
Minneapolis, MN
­3rd Place Winner
There are 3 boys in my family and I am the middle child. I watched my older brother deal with all the peer pressures of drinking in high school. Luckily, he made good choices. But then I realized how the same influences could affect my little brother, Noah. He loves football and is very influenced by anything to do with football. I was shocked by the statistics on influence that beer commercials have on kids. I asked myself why he has to watch HIS game and watch alcohol and beer commercials too. I know he will have lots of peer pressure in high school about drinking and he does not need this influence too.

For additional information contact:
Michael Scippa (415) 548-0492  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

English

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“In this year’s contest we asked young people to add performance elements to their counter-beer-ads” stated Michael Scippa, Free The BowlÔ contest director and Marin Institute public affairs director. “What they produced just blew us away with an amazing display of talent, creativity, and a deep understanding of how youth are exploited by Big Alcohol advertising.”

Oscar Chan, 20, from San Francisco, CA said, “I entered the contest to say that the way ads are made today negatively affect our society and we have to fight against this.” Oscar’s winning entry titled Wherever I Gois also the title of the original rap song sung in his video by a young San Francisco singer/writer Jerusalem Reissig, and is infused with an infectious beat and lyrics like “…Just cuz you drink, doesn’t mean it ain’t a drug, It ain’t all about popping bottles in the club.”

Research has shown that the more alcohol ads kids see, the more likely they are to drink, drink to excess, and drink more often. In 2009, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinkingreported that 5,000 people under the age of 21 die annually from injuries caused by alcohol. Hundreds of thousands more suffer alcohol-fueled sexual assaults, serious injuries, diseases, and academic failure.

“I’m personally not a big fan of the Super Bowl, but I sure do believe that alcohol ads attract a lot of teens,” stated Rami Al-odaini, 1^st place winner with his video Ads For Kids.“What I am saying is that we need to look into our society and see where we stand today. The facts are clear, these ads play a big role in what’s happening with underage drinking, and we need to take a step just like we did with tobacco ads.”

A recent analysis released by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shows that voluntary industry advertising codes are ineffective. According to the study, youth exposure to alcohol advertising on U.S. television increased 71 percent between 2001 and 2009. The research also pointed to Bud Light, a mainstay of TV sports event advertising, as one of 12 brands targeting youth.

“I watched my older brother deal with all the peer pressures of drinking in high school,” stated, Lewie Kloster, 16, from Minneapolis, MN. “Luckily, he made good choices. But then I realized how the same influences could affect my little brother, Noah who loves football and is very influenced by anything to do with football.”

Lewie’s 3rd place-winning video is titled Noah Knows the Score. “I was shocked by the statistics about beer commercial influence on kids.”He added, “I asked myself why does Noah have to watch HIS game and watch alcohol and beer ads too? I know he will have lots of peer pressure in high school about drinking, he doesn’t need this influence too.”

Big Alcohol (global beer, wine, and spirits corporations) will place 2 million alcohol ads on TV this year. Foreign-based alcohol corporations will spend half a billion dollars advertising during TV sports programs alone. As usual, Anheuser-Busch InBev will dominate the Super Bowl with approximately four solid minutes of airtime. It has been estimated that 30 million underage football fans will be watching.

“What inspired me to make this video was that so many are affected by all sorts of alcohol-related harm and all it does is tear family and friends apart,” said Thong Lor, 14, from Westville, OK, whose video No Beer won a third place prize. “Alcohol does not come with a time machine to turn things back,”he added. “Hopefully my video will send a message to those in need of guidance to turn your cheek against alcohol and not promote beer.”

“TheFree The BowlÔ Contest stands out to me as unique,”stated Jasper Lown, 14, from Wheaton, IL. “It rewards young filmmakers for exercising their creative talents, while having the opportunity to spread a positive message to others of their age group.”Jasper’s original ballad Token of Lies took second place in the contest. “I strongly believe that advertisements targeting such a vulnerable market ought to be pulled off the air,” he added.

Winners of the Free the BowlÔ 2011 video contest for youth are:

First Prize – Rami Al-odaini, 17, San Rafael, CA, for “Ads For Kids”

Second Prize – Jasper Lown, 14, Wheaton, IL for “Token Of Lies”

Third Prize – Oscar Chan, 20, San Francisco, CA for “Wherever I Go”

Third Prize – Thong Lor, 14, Westville, OK, for “No Beer”

Third Prize – Lewis Kloster, 16, Minneapolis, MN for “Noah Knows The Score”

All contest videos can be found at FreeTheBowl.com and background information on the effects of alcohol advertising on youth at MarinInstitute.org.

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SAN RAFAEL, CA  (February 2, 2011) -- Marin Institute, the alcohol Industry watchdog, is holding the Free the Bowl World Premiere 2011to announce the winners of their third annual youth-produced, counter-Super Bowl-beer-ad video contest.Videos this year are outstanding, as they are performances or songs.

The event will take place at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California on February 3, 2011. It begins with a reception at 4:00 p.m. (PT). The awards presentation takes place at 5:00 p.m., and will be streamed live at FreeTheBowl.com. This year’s contest received 62 entries from 10 different states (all eligible videos available to preview at FreeTheBowl.com).

What: Awards presentation, live entertainment, screening and streaming of the Free the Bowl 2011 winning counter-beer-ads.

When: Thursday, February 3, 2011, 4-6 p.m. (PT)

Where: Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St. San Rafael, CA 94901.  Also streaming live at www.FreeTheBowl.com.

Why: To honor young activist filmmakers from across the country for producing videos that counter exploitative alcohol ads on TV sports events

Because:

• The more alcohol ads kids see, the more likely they are to drink, drink to excess and drink more often
• Estimates indicate as many as 30 million underage youth view more ads for beer than for any other product during the Super Bowl
• It is well established that teens that begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until they are 21
• 10.7 million underage youth drink, 7.2 million binge drink and alcohol related problems from this drinking cost the country $60 billion dollars annually

For more info, interviews with Marin Institute staff and contest winners, please contact Free The Bowl Contest Director Michael Scippa @ (415) 548-0492.

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