I totally agree with Robert Cramer, chairman of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission (IABC), who advocates the banning of all-you-can-drink promotions by bars and restaurants. Cramer believes that the message being sent to young people by such promotions is that binge drinking and the often negative behaviors that result are acceptable ways to conduct yourself. Led by Cramer, the commission voted 4-1 to recommend banning such advertising.

It’s encouraging to see the IABC taking the issue of youth and alcohol seriously. For in reality, alcohol abuse by young people is at near epidemic levels. Alcohol abuse is an increasing problem on college campuses and many researchers and administrators are convinced that student drinking is no longer considered a harmless rite of passage.

In a recent study cited by the IABC, 70 percent of University of Iowa undergraduate students ranked as high-risk drinkers of alcohol and 46 percent were found to be frequent high-risk drinkers. “High-risk” drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks at a single sitting.

According to research conducted by University of Iowa psychologist Peter Nathan, between one-third and one-half of freshmen women at that university reported one or more unwanted sexual advances while under the influence of alcohol.

Experts at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State report similar alcohol-related problems, mostly related to binge drinking.

I join Cramer and the commission in supporting the following goals with respect to alcohol and our youth:

Increase penalties for minors who break alcohol laws.

Assign a single state agency to improve college alcohol education programs.

Adopt a .08 blood-alcohol standard for drunken driving. The current level is .10.

Set aside more money for local and statewide enforcement of alcohol laws. The money would come from the portion of fees and profits from wholesale liquor sales that are sent to cities and counties.

Appoint a legislative committee to review the possibility of restricting other liquor promotions.

I encourage everyone to let their legislators know that they support the recommendations put forward by Cramer and the IABC. By passing a ban on all-you-can-drink promotions, Iowa could save the health and even the lives of hundreds of Iowa’s young people far in to the future while simultaneously sending the message that binge drinking is neither advisable nor acceptable.

George Belitsos

CEO, Youth and Shelter Services

Ames