Urge "Drug Czar" Walters to End Relationship with Beer Promoter!

The Office of the "Drug Czar" is partnering with Anheuser - Busch beer sponsored NASCAR racer Jimmy Spencer on "anti-drug" messages to America's youth. This sends a confusing message to kids while legitimizing alcohol as a sponsor of sporting events. Tell John Walters, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to end this partnership that sends the wrong message "Don't Do Drugs, But Beer is OK!"

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: End Partnership with Beer Promoter

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to immediately end the relationship between the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and NASCAR racer Jimmy Spencer. There is no good reason to have a beer spokesman telling our children "Don't Do Drugs." This undercuts Federal Policy concerning the legal drinking age of 21 and the "Zero Tolerance" policy towards young people who drink and drive. Beer is the number one drug used by teens. Alcohol is a factor in the four leading causes of death among persons ages 10 to 24: (1) motor-vehicle crashes, (2) unintentional injuries, (3) homicide and (4) suicide; and underage drinking costs Americans $53 billion annually.

On Mr. Spencer's web site, which is linked to the ONDCP Media Campaign web site there are numerous references to beer and drinking. In one photo, Jimmy is wearing a Budweiser hat and poses behind cases of Busch beer. His race car has a Budweiser decal and there is an online store that sells shot glasses. These alcohol promotions send a mixed message to our children - "Don't Do Drugs, But Beer is OK." The ONDCP/NASCAR partnership legitimizes beer-industry sponsorship and advertising during sporting events that draw large numbers of our youth. I'm sure that ONDCP's mission seeks to send a loud, clear, and constant anti-drug message to America's young people. The partnership with NASCAR and Jimmy Spencer represents a massive deviation from that mission.

I ask that your office address this problem immediately. End the partnership with alcohol-industry promoters NASCAR and Jimmy Spencer. Further, I urge a careful review of other links from ONDCP's web site for messages that are counter to a drug-free lifestyle.

Lastly, I urge ONDCP to use the greatest of care in selecting future partnerships that are intended to deliver an important anti-drug message to our children. A careful review of potential partners would help to eliminate future conflicts of interest and strengthen ONDCP's ability to address all youth drug problems, including alcohol. I would appreciate a written response to my concerns.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 21, 2002

Background Information

You might be surprised to learn that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the "Drug Czar," has hooked up with beer promoters to bring "anti-drug" messages to young people. In partnering with NASCAR and driver Jimmy Spencer, that's just what they've done. And that sends the wrong message to young people in America. Help us to send the right message to ONDCP that this partnership is wrong headed and not acceptable.

ONDCP's collaboration with NASCAR abandons years of recognition that alcohol (and tobacco) are serious drug threats for young people. This also undercuts Federal Policy concerning the legal drinking age of 21 and the "Zero Tolerance" policy towards young people who drink and drive. The 1999 ONDCP Drug Control Strategy recognized that alcohol "is by far the drug of choice among American youth." Beer, in particular, is the favorite alcoholic beverage of young people in this country. Teens purchase approximately 10 percent of all the beer sold.

NASCAR has a $7.5 million sponsorship deal with Busch Beer. Jimmy Spencer's car, featured in a photo on ONDCP’s "Campaign Update", sports a Budweiser decal. Spencer's web site features pictures of him wearing a Budweiser cap, standing beside cases of Busch Beer. It also includes an online store where beer-can "coolies" and shot glasses are for sale. This mixed message can’t fail to confuse kids. Promoting the Campaign's anti-drug message alongside promotions for beer tells kids that illegal drugs are bad, but beer is OK. Sadly, this implication conforms to recent changes in ONDCP's principal goal. Until last year, that goal included "educating America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco." ONDCP's 2002 strategy drops the mention of alcohol and tobacco.

Take action now! Tell John Walters how you feel about beer promoters urging our kids to be drug-free. Ask Mr. Walters to do the following:

- Bring an immediate end to the partnership between ONDCP and NASCAR and driver Jimmy Spencer. This partnership sends the wrong message to the youth of this country. During the current racing season, Anheuser-Busch has paid more than $7.5 million in sponsorship fees to NASCAR.

- Review what is presently on or linked to the ONDCP websites. Some of the sites lead viewers to others that provide messages totally inconsistent with ONDCP's anti-drug message.

- Use greater care before entering into public partnerships that will reflect on ONDCP's credibility and good judgment.

For further information on this action alert, please contact Bill England, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy for CSPI Alcohol Policies Project at Bengland@cspinet.org or (202) 332-9110, x348.