Alcohol Advertising Accountability Act of 1996 - Mandates: (1) an annual report to the Congress on alcohol advertising, its profile, and its effects, along with recommendations for legislation; and (2) establishment of a panel to assist in gathering information for the report.
[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3475 Introduced in House (IH)]
104th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3475
To require an annual report by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services on alcohol advertising practices, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 16, 1996
Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Hinchey, Mr.
Faleomavaega, and Mr. Fattah) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require an annual report by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services on alcohol advertising practices, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Alcohol Advertising Accountability
Act of 1996''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 1995, the Department of Health and Human Services
found that there is a significant underage drinking problem and
estimated that there are 11 million drinkers of alcoholic
beverages who are under the age of 21. Of that number, 2
million are heavy drinkers of such beverages.
(2) In 1995, the proportion of students having 5 or more
drinks in a row during the 2 week period preceding the
Monitoring the Future Survey were 15 percent for 8th graders,
24 percent for 10th graders, and 30 percent for 12th graders.
(3) The median age at which children begin drinking
alcoholic beverages is just over 13 years. 67 percent of
students in the 8th grade have tried an alcoholic beverage.
(4) A 1995 survey found that 50 percent of the teenagers
who were asked said that alcohol is a more serious problem
among today's youth than illicit drugs.
(5) In 1993, nearly 10 percent (over 110,000) of the
clients admitted to State-funded alcohol treatment programs
were under the age of 21.
(6) Alcoholic beverage companies spent $2 billion to
advertise and promote their products in 1995. The budget of the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for the same
year was $176 million.
(7) According to a study published in the American Journal
of Public Health, viewing beer ads on television may predispose
young people to drinking beer. Children who are more aware of
beer advertisements hold more favorable beliefs about drinking
beer and intend to drink beer more frequently as adults.
(8) Almost half of all adults think that alcohol industry
advertising greatly influences underage youth to drink
alcoholic beverages, another one-third think industry
advertising has some influence.
SEC. 3. REPORT OF SECRETARY ON ALCOHOL ADVERTISING.
(a) Action by the Secretary.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall report annually to the Congress on alcohol advertising,
its profile and its effects. To assist the Secretary in gathering
information for such report, the Secretary shall establish a panel made
up of such individuals as the Secretary, in the Secretary's discretion,
may select from individuals in the Department of Health and Human
Services or any other Federal agency.
(b) Panel Function.--The panel established by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services under subsection (a) shall review alcohol
advertising in all media, including broadcast and cable television,
other electronic means, and print and outdoor advertising and review
promotional activities undertaken to promote the sale of alcoholic
beverages. The Secretary shall convene at least 2 public hearings
before the panel established under subsection (a) each year and shall
have the panel conduct a hearing in each of the regional offices of the
Department of Health and Human Services over the 5-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Report Content.--The report of the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under subsection (a) shall be developed on the basis of
the work conducted by the panel established under subsection (a) and
shall include--
(1) an identification of--
(A) the media used by alcohol advertising to reach
children,
(B) the total expenditures for alcoholic beverage
advertising in each media and in promotions,
(C) the extent to which media program audiences are
under the age of 21,
(D) an identification of the types and themes of
alcohol advertising in all media (especially in
broadcast) and other electronic means,
(E) any graphics, slogans, children's characters,
and techniques that are used and that appeal to youth,
and
(F) the extent to which other promotional efforts
used to market alcoholic beverages which appear in
clothing, sporting events, contests, and concerts
appeal to individuals under the age of 21;
(2) a determination of the extent to which young people are
exposed to alcohol advertising and promotions of alcoholic
beverages;
(3) an evaluation of the relationship between alcohol
advertising practices and underage drinking, drunk driving, and
related public health problems; and
(4) an evaluation of alcohol industry sponsored campaigns
addressing public service and prevention messages for underage
drinking, drunk driving, and other alcohol-related topics.
(d) Recommendations.--The report of the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under subsection (a) shall also include such
recommendations for legislation as the Secretary determines are
appropriate.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
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