Anti-teen drinking campaign could see cutbacks

State lawmakers are looking to increase punishments for underage drinkers and their parents, even as they make deep funding cuts to an educational campaign that shows how alcohol damages teen brains. The $1.8 million education program, which includes a series of ads aimed at reducing underage drinking, is expected to be cut by $1 million. Last fall, lawmakers approved reducing the campaign by $250,000, and now they're considering another cut of $750,000.

"The cuts are shocking," said Sharon Mackay, spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which oversees the campaign. "We'll certainly have to make some major adjustments."

MacKay says it's very likely that previously run ads will be recycled and that less media time will be purchased, relying instead on free public service announcements as space and time become available. The reduction in funding for Eliminate Alcohol Sales to Youth program, or E.A.S.Y., has been approved by the Commerce and Workforce Services Subcommittee. Early next week the Executive Appropriations Committee will make its recommendation before the House and Senate give final approval for the E.A.S.Y. budget.  Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Holladay, said committee members had a difficult time deciding where to cut, "and frankly, it was easier to cut there than food stamps or other assistance programs that so many people in this state are dependent on."

But Art Brown, president of the Utah Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the underage drinking campaign cuts are a bad idea -- especially because alcohol sales are soaring. He pointed to liquor sales of $123.6 million last fiscal year -- up nearly $13 million from the year before.

"Utah is in the business of selling alcohol -- helping parents protect youth from underage drinking should be part of the cost of doing business," he said.

The state-funded campaign, called ParentsEmpowered.org, was launched in September 2006 and is touted as the first of its kind aimed at parents instead of teens, according to alcohol control officials. Newspaper, television, radio and billboards say parental disapproval is the No. 1 reason children choose not to drink.

About 71 percent of parents questioned in a survey recalled seeing or hearing advertising that described the dangers of underage drinking, and 66 percent remembered ads about parental skills that keep kids alcohol free. An annual report on the program released in December also said that although 67 percent of the parents reported they "very likely" would set clear rules against underage drinking, only 31 percent said they would limit their children's unsupervised time with friends.

"There's still a gap between parental beliefs and intentions to act that must be bridged," the report said.

As lawmakers consider whether to cut program funding by more than half, they'll also be voting on several bills that would more harshly punish teens and adults involved with underage drinking.

Last Friday, a House panel approved HB313, which would allow cities and counties to slap $1,000 fines on hosts of underage drinking parties if emergency vehicles are dispatched. Another measure, HB129, would revoke driver licenses for a year for anyone caught using a fake ID to sneak into a bar. It has passed the House and a Senate committee. And HB21 would require substance-abuse counseling before driver licenses could be reinstated.

dawn@sltrib.com