A Covert War Against Drinking - American Beverage Institute

alcohol on planes as a way to curbviolent behavior by passengers. 52There has been almost no pushbackfrom the airlines. Indeed, United andNorthwest promised to cut back onin-flight sales.• Banning alcohol in the air is hardly anew idea. The Crabby Traveler, whowrites a travel column for ABCNews’ Web site, cites examples of afew deranged air passengers whohave made trouble and urgesactivists to “fight for an alcohol banas vigorously as they did to extinguishsmoking.” 53 Statistics providedby British Airways take a bite out ofthe Crabby Traveler’s argument. Theairline reported only 266 “disruptive”passengers out of the 41 millionwho flew on the carrier in 1997.What’s more, only 37 of those incidentsinvolved alcohol. 54• Having a beer at lunch is now a firingoffense for Michigan state employeessince the Civil Service Commissionimposed a .02 BAC during workhours. “Our position,” said one civilserviceofficial, “is that on-dutyactivity, whether you’re representingour state at a convention [emphasisadded] or sitting in your office, meansthat you don’t drink.” 55• Oregon’s Department of MotorVehicles refused to issue a vanitylicense plate with the letters “W-I-N-E” to a retired wine dealer, describingthis message as “offensive.” 56• Anti-alcohol activist Sandy Goldenargues that, “It’s time to get the countrylooking at the alcohol industry in exactlythe same way we’re looking attobacco…. We’re 10 to 15 years behindthe tobacco people, and we want toclose that gap in the next year or two.” 57• A 1999 MADD television spot showsheroin being boiled in a spoon andsucked into a syringe while the voiceoverintones that alcohol kills morepeople under 21 than all illegal drugscombined. Message: just as there isno safe amount of heroin or crackcocaine, there is no safe drinking.• In Arlington, Texas, MADDopposed any beer drinking bygolfers at a public course. “I’ve seenhow alcohol can destroy lives,” saida MADD spokesman. “Life is riskyenough on its own.” 58These opponents of alcohol would be wellserved to hear what economist, MarkThornton has to say: “The lessons ofProhibition should be used to curb the urgeto prohibit. Neoprohibition of alcohol …would result in more crime, corruption, anddangerous products and increased governmentcontrol over the average citizen’s life.” 59Americans who treat adult beverages likethe plague are getting a boost from the U.S.government, which is painting the moderateand reasonable consumption of alcohol,unrelated to driving, as a public-health problem.From 1990 to 2000, the NationalAmerican Beverage Licensees | America's Beer, Wine, and Spirits Retailers9