Cord Byrd: “looking at another chart to my left, this chart demonstrates competitive media reporting estimates that the alcoholic…”

“looking at another chart to my left, this chart demonstrates competitive media reporting estimates that the alcoholic beverage industry spent more than $1 billion on alcohol advertising in 1995. In contrast, in 1995, the Federal investment in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism was a mere $189.8 million for alcohol research. Does the industry expect us to believe that it would spend this huge amount of money--$1.1 billion--if it were not getting something for that money? Some may argue that this legislation would adversely affect the advertising industry by forcing producers of alcoholic beverages to eliminate their advertising expenditure. Poppycock. I do not believe that this would be the case. Alcoholic beverage producers spend large amounts of money to advertise their products because it encourages people to consume their product and it, therefore, increases sales. Eliminating the advertising deduction will not eliminate the fundamental business practice. By making these advertisements less profitable, this amendment may reduce the overall amount of alcohol advertising in our society. However, let there be no doubt that the alcohol ads will keep on running. You can bet your bottom dollar on that. They will. The difference, however, will be that the American taxpayer will no longer be subsidizing this activity and that the money will go, instead, to getting the other side of the alcohol story out. That is what we need to start doing.”