NCADD - Action Alert 61 (10/1/99)

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
ADVERTISING UPDATE
"SHAME ON ANHEUSER BUSCH" CAMPAIGN UPDATE

"Hurricane" Malt Liquor Update (10/1/99)

NCADD's Shame on Anheuser-Busch Campaign includes efforts to urge the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to rescind approval of name and label of the malt liquor "Hurricane."

BACKGROUND
On September 8, 1999, you received an Action Alert asking that letters be sent to members of Congress, urging them to write to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) about Hurricane malt liquor. Since then, Representative John Conyers (D-MI) has decided to send a letter to all members of the House of Representatives to garner additional signatures to the letter he is going to send to BATF.

Anheuser-Busch markets "Hurricane," a malt liquor with 5.9 percent alcohol, despite a federal prohibition on alcoholic beverage labels or designs that can be considered as statements of alcoholic content. We believe the name "Hurricane," which relates to one of nature's fiercest storms, and the picture on the bottles and cans of palm trees blowing in apparent hurricane force winds are a clear message to consumers that the product is extra strong. "Hurricane" appears to be sold mainly in inner-cities.

Congress has delegated authority to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to provide Americans with fair and effective regulation of the alcoholic beverage industry. In 1991, BATF canceled the label approval for "PowerMaster," another malt liquor. In that case, BATF determined that the name, in close proximity to a picture of a bucking stallion, violated federal regulations. NCADD supported that action, and asked BATF to review all malt-liquor advertising and product identification and take appropriate action against ads that violate the law. "Hurricane" is a good place for BATF to start.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Call or write to your representative, and urge him or her to co-sign the letter that Rep. Conyers will send to BATF. The Capitol Hill switchboard number is 202/224-3121--just ask for you representative's office. Or contact them via the internet by clicking here If you have any questions, please contact the Public Policy Office via email at publicpolicy@ncadd.org.