As a youth growing up in Columbia County, we hear and see messages telling us not to drink alcohol.  Some adults share with us the dangers of drinking at a young age and ask us to make the right choice.  Many programs in the schools are sharing “The Truth” about alcohol and the low number of kids who are drinking.  It turns out less kids are drinking than what we really think.  The shocking news is that Wisconsin still leads the nation in underage drinking - not a statistic to be proud of.  This got us thinking about why that is.  So, we went on trip around our county.  We were shocked to see what we found.  Alcohol and beer ads were almost everywhere.  Every time a new festival or event happens you can almost be sure five to ten new beer commercials will be posted around town.

To help adults better understand what is going on we have posted some of the most obvious mixed message ads/displays we could find.  The sad thing is that we did not have look very hard to find them.  Anything celebrating drinking early in the day, associated with kids or just plain wrong has made our list.  Please take a moment to review our pictures and ask yourself if you have seen pictures like this before.  Then ask yourself what message it sends to young people.

Pancakes and beer?

This poster is telling kids that beer with breakfast is acceptable and beer early in day is also OK.  This program starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends by 1:00 p.m.

 

Cupcake wine?

Who comes up with this stuff? How many adults bring cupcakes to work on their birthday? How many kids bring cupcakes to school on their birthday? Who is this really targeting?

 

This one goes wrong in three different directions!!!

Bean Bags are traditionally for kids not adults.  What time does the bar open? 10 a.m.  That way you can be good and drunk by the time you toss your first bean bag at noon.  Don’t worry - it is for a good cause.  Maybe the next event can be to support the end of Cirrhosis of the Liver and have it placed on a cigarette banner.

 

Can you get anymore wrong?

Using a picture of a two year old child to sell wine.  Enough said!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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