The Negative Effects of Alcohol Advertising to Youth
Research clearly indicates that, in addition to parents and peers, alcohol advertising and marketing have a significant impact on youth decisions to drink. "While many factors may influence an underage person's drinking decisions, including among other things parents, peers and the media, there is reason to believe that advertising also plays a role" (Federal Trade Commission, Self-Regulation in the Alcohol Industry, 1999). “Parents and peers have a large impact on youth decisions to drink; however, research clearly indicates that alcohol advertising and marketing also have a significant effect by influencing youth and adult expectations and attitudes, and helping to create an environment that promotes underage drinking.” When underage kids see alcoholic ads they tend to be more prone to drink. The fact of the matter is that underage drinking is illegal, making it much more attractive to do. And the alcohol industries do a very good job by making ads that are very enticing to kids underage.
Alcoholic ads are all over television these days; a day doesn’t go by where one doesn’t see an alcohol related advertisement. Companies make advertisements so that people will see them on television and get enticed to go out and purchase their product. The alcohol industries are definitely promoting much of their ads to the youth. Alcohol ads are everywhere, whether it is on television, the Internet or in magazines; teenagers are obviously large users of the Internet and television. Alcohol industries are trying to get underage kids more interested in alcohol so that when they are old enough to drink they will purchase their product. This is a major problem in society today because kids aren’t waiting till they are old ...