-
4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE p (202) 329-8227 Suite
202 e [email protected] Washington, DC 20019 www.w7sdcc.org
November 18, 2015 The Honorable Jack Evans Council of the
District of Columbia John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004 Dear Councilmember Evans: The Ward 7
Safe & Drug-free Communities Coalitiona community-based
nonprofit organized to promote substance abuse prevention among
youth and adults living in Ward 7 through resident education and
empowermenturges you to oppose the proposal to repeal the ban on
alcohol ads on Metrorail and buses in order to raise revenue. You
have stood with us when we were advocating for the window
advertisement limitation and we ask you to stand with usfor
children and youthagain. There are more than 17,000 children and
youth who live in Ward 7. And every day in Ward 7, more than 400
middle school-aged children must take the bus or rail to get to
school since their local school is over capacity. If you and your
colleagues repeal the ban, those 400-plus children would be exposed
to ads glamorizing drinking. That is wholly unacceptable to us and
many who live in Ward 7 and it should be unacceptable to you, too.
The WMATA ban on alcohol ads has been in place since 1994 for good
reason. Children and youth are influenced by advertisements and the
last thing we need is to increase the appeal of alcohol among those
under the drinking age. The research on this topic is clear:
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics earlier this year found
television ads increased alcohol use among teens and young
adults.
The more alcohol ads children and youth see, the more likely
they are to drink, to start drinking at an earlier age, and to have
alcohol-related health issues in their lifetimes, according to the
World Health Organizations 2014 Global Status Report.
Brand-specific alcohol advertising is a "significant predictor
of underage youth alcohol brand consumption" as determined by a
recent study from Boston Universitys School of Public Health.
We understand and appreciate the financial needs of WMATA and
real and pressing. But we cannot balance the WMATA books on the
backs of children and youth. Again, we urge you to keep the ban on
alcohol ads in place by opposing the proposal on the table.
Sincerely,
Lois Callahan Lois Callahan Project Director
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4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE p (202) 329-8227 Suite
202 e [email protected] Washington, DC 20019 www.w7sdcc.org
November 18, 2015 The Honorable Yvette Alexander Council of the
District of Columbia John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004 Dear Councilmember Alexander: The
Ward 7 Safe & Drug-free Communities Coalitiona community-based
nonprofit organized to promote substance abuse prevention among
youth and adults living in Ward 7 through resident education and
empowermenturges you to stand with us and the children and youth in
Ward 7 to oppose the proposal to repeal the ban on alcohol ads on
Metrorail and buses in order to raise revenue. You championed the
window advertisement limitation and we ask you to stand with usfor
children and youthagain. There are more than 17,000 children and
youth who live in Ward 7. And every day in Ward 7, more than 400
middle school-aged children must take the bus or rail to get to
school since their local school is over capacity. If you and your
colleagues repeal the ban, those 400-plus children would be exposed
to ads glamorizing drinking. That is wholly unacceptable to us and
many who live in Ward 7 and it should be unacceptable to you, too.
The WMATA ban on alcohol ads has been in place since 1994 for good
reason. Children and youth are influenced by advertisements and the
last thing we need is to increase the appeal of alcohol among those
under the drinking age. The research on this topic is clear:
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics earlier this year found
television ads increased alcohol use among teens and young
adults.
The more alcohol ads children and youth see, the more likely
they are to drink, to start drinking at an earlier age, and to have
alcohol-related health issues in their lifetimes, according to the
World Health Organizations 2014 Global Status Report.
Brand-specific alcohol advertising is a "significant predictor
of underage youth alcohol brand consumption" as determined by a
recent study from Boston Universitys School of Public Health.
We understand and appreciate the financial needs of WMATA and
real and pressing. But we cannot balance the WMATA books on the
backs of children and youth. Sincerely,
Lois Callahan Lois Callahan Project Director
-
4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE p (202) 329-8227 Suite
202 e [email protected] Washington, DC 20019 www.w7sdcc.org
November 18, 2015 The Honorable Muriel Bowser Mayor, District of
Columbia John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004 Dear Mayor Bowser: The Ward 7 Safe &
Drug-free Communities Coalitiona community-based nonprofit
organized to promote substance abuse prevention among youth and
adults living in Ward 7 through resident education and
empowermenturges you to stand with us and the children and youth in
Ward 7 to oppose the proposal to repeal the ban on alcohol ads on
Metrorail and buses in order to raise revenue. There are more than
17,000 children and youth who live in Ward 7. And every day in Ward
7, more than 400 middle school-aged children must take the bus or
rail to get to school since their local school is over capacity. If
you and your colleagues repeal the ban, those 400-plus children
would be exposed to ads glamorizing drinking. We are sure that is
not the legacy you want to leave with your Kids Ride Free program.
The WMATA ban on alcohol ads has been in place since 1994 for good
reason. Children and youth are influenced by advertisements and the
last thing we need is to increase the appeal of alcohol among those
under the drinking age. The research on this topic is clear:
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics earlier this year found
television ads increased alcohol use among teens and young
adults.
The more alcohol ads children and youth see, the more likely
they are to drink, to start drinking at an earlier age, and to have
alcohol-related health issues in their lifetimes, according to the
World Health Organizations 2014 Global Status Report.
Brand-specific alcohol advertising is a "significant predictor
of underage youth alcohol brand consumption" as determined by a
recent study from Boston Universitys School of Public Health.
We understand and appreciate the financial needs of WMATA and
real and pressing. But we cannot balance the WMATA books on the
backs of children and youth. Sincerely,
Lois Callahan Lois Callahan Project Director
