Richard A Yoast, PhD, Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, American Medical Association, 515 North State St, Chicago, IL 60610, 312-464-4202, Richard_Yoast@ama-assn.org

The alcohol industry benefits from underage drinking and high consumption by young adults. In order to preserve these markets while appearing to be corporately responsible, the industry promotes image and “educational” campaigns. These campaigns forward industry economic and policy goals by focusing public and policy maker attention on consumer behavior and responsibility. At the same time they aggressively undercut public policy which would reduce the industry's freedom of action, interfere with profits gained from sales to underage and heavy drinking populations, and that would hold the industry responsible for adverse impacts from alcohol consumption. This presentation will discuss the education/policy strategies used by the beer and distilled spirits manufacturers and their educational front groups. Policy makers will gain an understanding of these corporate policies, programs and behaviors and how they are designed to counter science-based policies.

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