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A month ago, the North Carolina varsity swimming and diving team had no written or formal alcohol policy.
Five alcohol-related player suspensions later, that approach is a thing of the past. „When we had some abuses, we began to sanction people,” coach Rich DeSelm said. “For some people that was enough. For others it wasn’t.” The result is a zero-tolerance policy for drinking violations that carries a threat of suspension, giving the swimming and diving team one of UNC’s strictest policies. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 11/3/09) dailytarheel.com, 11/2/09

After winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times, what else is a cyclist to do but start hawking beer? Lance Armstrong, the iconic, cancer-surviving athlete seems to think so. He’s just inked a three-year deal with Anheuser Busch-InBev (ABI) to promote Michelob Ultra as a low-calorie beer for “health-minded, active drinkers.” (Source: Marin Institute, 10/12/09)

The Australian Drug Foundation is responding to the binge drinking problem in Cairns by rolling out its Good Sports program across North Queensland – a program committed to reducing alcohol related problems in sporting clubs. Addressing recent Cairns media reports about a rise in dollar drinks and binge drinking, the Foundation’s Tony Hewitt says „There is an urgent need to help Queenslanders understand the risk of binge drinking and the marketing ploys used to encourage excessive consumption of alcohol. (Source: Medical News Today, 10/6/09)

Half or more of the ads aired during Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) games are for alcohol, drugs, or sexually related products, according to the group Common Sense Media. The Associated Press reported Sept. 17 that the group has called on sports leagues and networks to curb advertising they say is inappropriate for young viewers — so far, without success. (Source: Join Together, 9/21/09)

Some college stadiums are turning to beer sales to improve their bottom line as the economic downturn puts a dent in their other revenues. (Source: Join Together, 9/16/09)

All alcohol marketing should be banned, including sponsorship of major sporting and music events, and cut price promotions like happy hours, doctors leaders have warned. A report by the British Medical Association said tough measures were needed to tackle the medical, psychological and social harm caused by excess drinking. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 9/9/09) Channel 4 News, 9/8/09

1800 Tequila Is Just the Ticket. When the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship in June, the streets outside the Staples Center erupted in violence. Instead of simply celebrating the victory, many fans rioted, a local gas station was looted, a police car was torched, and a bus was vandalized. But here’s the amazing thing about this story: The final game was played on the opposite end of the continent, in Miami, and was not even broadcast at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as it had been in previous years. According to police, the fans-turned-rioters poured out of the bars surrounding the Staple Center when the game ended, and mayhem ensued.
Given this very recent history, it’s astonishing that the L.A. Lakers would, barely two months later, sign a deal to market 1800 Tequila courtside. Even more incredible is this statement by the team’s Chief Marketing Officer Tim Harris:
“Our goal is to ensure that Lakers games are the most enjoyable and exciting games to watch. Through this groundbreaking partnership, 1800 will provide Lakers fans with the familiar flavor of the super-premium spirit and a variety of beverage choices to enjoy while celebrating courtside, while ensuring that we communicate responsible drinking.” (Source: Marin Institute, 8/23/09) Comment: Just unbelievable.

Drinkers aren’t just bending their elbows: according to a new study, the more alcohol people drink, the more likely they might be to exercise. „Alcohol users not only exercised more than abstainers, but the differential actually increased with more drinking,“ said lead author Michael French, Ph.D. „There is a strong association between all levels of drinking and both moderate and vigorous physical activity. However, these results do not suggest that people should use alcohol to boost their exercise programs, as the study was not designed to determine whether alcohol intake actually caused an increase in exercise.“ (Source: Medical News Today, 9/1/09) Online-Comment: This again is a study for alcohol marketing. Perhaps the researchers didn’t know studies which show that in many sportsclubs alcohol is a common social tool, especially in team sport. And many are sponsored by the alcohol industry. That’s why sports clubs often are not a preventive measure for youth regarding alcohol. For me the result isn’t surprising. And many newspapers will bring the headlines without a critical statement.

Colleges that objected to Anheuser-Busch’s team-colored beer cans have succeeded in getting the brewer to halt the promotion in their local communities. (Source: Join Together, 8/27/09)

Anheuser-Busch is releasing a series of 27 can designs for Bud Light featuring the colors of college sports teams, but the schools‘ reactions have been decidedly mixed, the Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 21.
The brewer contends that the promotion is aimed at legal-age drinkers and that the cans don’t include any team logos. Some schools seem accepting of the idea, but others are calling on the company to stop the marketing campaign, saying it encourages drinking among college students — many of whom are under age 21. (Source: Join Together, 8/24/09)