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Church Submits Additional Testimony on Alcohol Advertising Policy in Utah
10 October 2001
 
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has requested public comment as it reviews policies relating to advertising of alcoholic beverages. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has submitted additional testimony urging continuation of existing sound practices and regulations. These detailed comments expand on an earlier statement given to the Commission on 21 September.

The Church opposes liberalization of Utah's alcoholic beverage control laws. In its written comments to the Commission, the Church emphasizes the following:

*The impact on society from the abuse of alcohol, in terms of pain, sorrow, misery and lost lives, is incalculable.
* Existing alcohol laws are supported by a majority of Utah citizens.
* No social or economic benefit from liberalization of existing policy can outweigh the negative societal consequences that would follow from erosion of existing state controls or the failure to vigorously enforce alcohol laws.
* Utah's interest in promoting temperance - to discourage overconsumption, intoxication, drunk driving, and underage access and consumption, and to minimize health and public safety consequences related to alcohol - supports restrictions on advertising for all types of alcoholic beverages.
* In addition to a thorough review of existing studies, new studies should be commissioned to analyze the impact of advertising on the state's temperance interests, especially advertising's impact on vulnerable youth.
* The Church believes that purveyors of alcohol should not be accorded the same First Amendment protections to promote use of their products to youth as those who speak out on political, social, religious and other issues of human discourse.
* Current laws already provide for the availability of alcoholic beverages for adults who wish to responsibly consume.
* The Commission is required to protect the public interest, including the rights of those citizens who do not wish to be involved with alcoholic beverages, by continuing to uphold and enforce existing alcohol control policy.