Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Prevention message part of best 2010 campaign

In today's PI, Joel Connelly wrote about "2010: Who scored, who dropped the ball (besides the M's, Hawks)" and here is what he wrote under Best Campaign:

Facing a public dissatisfied with the state's hard liquor monopoly, opponents of Initiatives 1100 and 1105 blanketed the airwaves with TV spots of teens buying booze at a convenience store and then driving off.

The campaign created just enough doubt about privatization to turn back both measures.

If what he says is true, that the image of teenagers buying alcohol is what turned the tide against the initiatives, then those of us involved in youth substance abuse prevention should take note. The citizens of Washington support what we do and the health and safety of our children takes precedence over convenience and getting government out of the liquor business.

The Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (WASAVP) played a key role in the coalition that campaigned against the initiatives. WASAVP is a volunteer-run organization with the mission of uniting prevention advocates from around the state.

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