Youth and Alcohol

Your article on San Diego teen-agers’ use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (“S.D. Teens Drink, Smoke Less Than Peers,” Feb. 12) brings home the important statistic that 68% of all deaths for persons under the age of 24 are caused by car crashes, homicides, suicides and other injuries. The story correctly points out that the use of alcohol and other drugs contributes in major ways to these deaths.

Of additional interest are statistics, not presented in your article, which show that about half of all drownings, spousal violence, child abuse and armed robberies, plus a large portion of other types of traumatic deaths, are also alcohol-related. Add to this death toll the enormous quantity of nonfatal crashes and other violence which involve alcohol and other drugs among our youth.

It is easy to see that beer and liquor ads which appeal especially to young people can help set lifelong habits of involvement with alcohol, and perhaps with other drugs. For example, lots of alcohol advertising appears in local college newspapers. Clearly, youthful and underage drinkers compose the main audience of those ads.

Alcohol industry promotion of sporting events in which youth are main participants also sends a mixed message to our youngsters, combining a positive sports image with the liquor industry’s involvement.

San Diegans often think of themselves as health-oriented. We can be more supportive of our youth by encouraging non-alcohol-related promotion of youth and sports events, and by paying more attention to the media messages that are influencing our youngsters’ lives.

JAMES BAKER, Media Resource Center on Alcohol Issues, Lemon Grove