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

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Grassroots Rally at Los Angeles City Hall

LIVE VIDEO - http://bit.ly/mM3xZS

Join the Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads from Public Property

LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following advisory was issued today by Marin Institute:

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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: http://noalcoholads.org/

LIVE VIDEO - http://bit.ly/mM3xZS

Contact:  John O. Whitaker, 213 400-6542
Christy Zamani, 626 529-4470  
Ruben Rodriguez, 818 837-2272
(Spanish speaking media)

SOURCE Marin Institute