L.A. Just Say No to Bus Bench Alcohol Ads

What:

Rally to Protect Youth and Oppose Alcohol Ads on City-Owned Bus Benches

Where:

Los Angeles City Hall Plaza

When:

Friday June 10, 2011, 8:30 am

Who:

AWARE Coalition

Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight

Community Leadership Coalition

Day One Pasadena

Los Angeles Coalition on Alcohol Policy

Marin Institute

Pueblo y Salud

Sierra Club / Los Angeles Chapter

United Coalition East Prevention Project

WCTU

Why:

The research is clear: the more alcohol advertisements young people see, the more likely they are to drink and drink to excess. It's time to stop using public property to target youth with alcohol ads. Instead, protecting them from additional exposure by prohibiting alcohol ads on city-owned bus benches is just a no-brainer.

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health recently recommended that "reducing alcohol advertising in public spaces and in areas commonly seen by minors," would help discourage underage drinking. Yet a proposed 10-year bus bench contract with Martin Outdoor Media LLC, inexplicably allows the company to place alcohol ads on public property.

The city does not have to bend to corporate dictates, especially those which can have a harmful effect on the health and safety of youth. As noted in a 2007 Marin Institute study, many cities in the U.S. already restrict alcohol ads from appearing on mass transit systems.

Currently the Los Angeles MTA does not allow alcohol advertising on its buses, trains and other transit facilities. The Board of Public Works and the Los Angeles City Council should adopt this wise policy and not approve the Martin Outdoor Media contract until an amendment is added to not allow alcohol ads on city-owned bus benches.

Contact:

John O. Whitaker, 213 400-6542

Christy Zamani, 626 529-4470

Ruben Rodriguez, 818 837-2272

(Spanish speaking media)