SAMPLE LETTER

Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street NW
Washington, DC  20554

Dear Commissioner --: 

The Federal Communications Commission has the authority and
obligation to require broadcasters to offer a significant amount
of airtime for privately funded alcohol counter-advertisements. 
I strongly urge you to implement the petition filed by the
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and 23 other
organizations on May 14, 1997.

Since broadcasters accept money to air ads for alcohol, which is
the third leading cause of preventable death in the United
States, in the public interest they should provide time for
counter-ads that challenge the messages and images that glamorize
and normalize the use of that product.

Alcohol poses enormous short-term health risks to the nation's
youth who currently use it in significantly higher numbers than
any other drug, including tobacco.  For example, one in ten
eighth graders report they have been drunk in the past month, by
the time they are seniors in high school, this percentage has
increased to one in three.  These teenagers are more likely to be
involved in alcohol-related fatal car crashes, or the victims of
suicide or homicide.  In addition, drinking increases the chances
of date rape for girls and violence, including criminal activity,
for boys.  It also causes academic and athletic performances of
both sexes to suffer.

Alcohol ads clearly attract the attention of youth.  A recent USA
Today survey shows that the Budweiser frog commercials have been
seen by 99 percent of high school students; 92 percent liked the
ad; 38 percent said the ad makes drinking more appealing and 18
percent said the ad makes them want to buy the product.  Other
ads were shown to be similarly effective.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,