New alcohol advertising regulations

From the Washington State Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking:

Over 500 teens and adults sent comments to the Liquor Control Board (LCB) encouraging increased regulation of alcohol advertising. This was unprecedented!

The journey is almost complete. The LCB filed the proposed rules with the coder reviser on January 13. They include:

-- Limit alcohol advertising signs on stores to 4 with no more than 1600 square inches per sign.

-- Limit alcohol advertising signs at festival beer gardens to the same rules and eliminate inflatables or give-aways that promote alcohol.

-- Signs should not appeal to, or target, children/teens.

-- Signs should be more than 500 feet to the property line of schools, churches, playgrounds.

The last step before adoption is a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the LCB in Olympia. The LCB will adopt the rules on March 3, 2010 and they will become effective April 3.

While alcohol advertising may not be the #1 factor contributing to underage drinking, it is a factor that influences youth in all communities. This is a wonderful success for substance abuse prevention and it is largely thanks to everyone who made comments to the LCB over the past year about alcohol advertising.