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If someone you love has a drinking problem, this booklet will provide you with facts about a simple program of recovery. Through its help, over a million people who once drank too much are now living comfortable and productive lives without alcohol.

For six decades, Alcoholics Anonymous has been working successfully for men and women from every kind of background. Before these people came to A.A., most of them had tried to control their drinking on their own and, only after repeated unsuccessful efforts at such control, finally admitted that they were powerless over alcohol. At first, they could not imagine life without it; they certainly did not want to admit that they were alcoholics. But, with the help of other A.A. members, they learned that they did not have to drink. They discovered that life without alcohol not only was possible, but could be happy and deeply rewarding.

Often those closest to an alcoholic find it hardest to see and admit that someone they care about can be an alcoholic. Such a thing just can't be true, it seems. In their eagerness to deny the depth of the problem, they may for a time believe the alcoholic's promises. But the repeated breaking of these promises and the increasing difficulties finally force those living with the alcoholic to acknowledge the truth.

Then a desperate search for a solution begins. Feeling that all their love and well-intended attempts to help have been wasted, they become deeply discouraged. If you have felt like this, take hope from the experience of A.A. members' spouses, relatives, lovers, and friends who once felt the same way, but have seen the problem drinkers they care about freed from the compulsion to drink.

In this booklet, you will find answers to many questions that people asked both before and after the alcoholic in their lives joined A.A. If the problem drinkers laugh at the idea that they are in trouble with alcohol, or if they resent any such suggestions, the following pages may help explain what you can and cannot do. If the alcoholic has already joined A.A., the information that follows will help you o understand the A.A. way of life.

Perhaps the best brief description of what A.A. is and what it does is this short "Preamble," usually read at the beginning of every A.A. meeting:

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

 

CLICK THE PICTURE TO READ THE BIG BOOK ONLINE

Alcoholics Anonymous is acknowledged as a trademark The group is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Related Links:  Alcohol Advertising: Fact Sheet  Alcohol Advertising: Literature Review

As many researchers have shown, most alcohol advertising seeks to associate drinking with possessing desirable qualities or experiencing pleasure. Advertising attempts to make alcohol an integral part of the good life, the American dream, proper masculinity, and other compelling themes in American culture. Alcohol advertising thus helps create an environment in which alcohol consumption and over-consumption are normal activities. Moreover, some advertisers, particularly beer advertisers, may encourage underage drinking by presenting images that appeal to youth. The alcohol industry has also stepped up its advertising aimed at communities of color as it seeks to increase its market among these groups.

Most studies of alcohol advertising link greater exposure to or awareness of advertising to heavier or more frequent drinking among adults and, among children, to more favorable attitudes toward drinking and a greater intention to drink as adults. Many policy advocates thus focus prevention efforts on the alcohol industry's powerful use of media to create, sustain, and expand markets for its products. It seems likely that decreasing exposure to alcohol advertising--or increasing advertising that counters alcohol's appeal--will weaken the strong link that advertising makes between drinking and possessing desirable qualities, thus decreasing consumption and the injury and violence associated with it.

SUMMARIES

Commercial and character slogan recall by children aged 9 to 11 years: Budweiser Frogs versus Bugs Bunny. Laurie Leiber. Center on Alcohol Advertising. San Francisco CA. 1996. 6 pages.

Chasing the frogs and camels out of Los Angles: the movement to limit alcohol and tobacco billboards. Bill Gallegos. San Rafael CA: The Marin Institute. 1999. 18 pages.

Tobacco and alcohol use in G-rated children's animated films. Adam O. Goldstein, Rachel A. Sobel, and Glen R. Newman. Journal of the American Medical Association 281(12):1131-1136. 1999.

Television and music video exposure and risk of adolescent alcohol use. Thomas N. Robinson, Helen L. Chen, and Joel D. Killen. Pediatrics 102(5):e54. November 1998.

Alcohol in the mass media and drinking by adolescents: a longitudinal study. Gary M. Connolly, Sally Casswell, Jia-Fang Zhang, and Phil A. Silva. Addiction 89:1255-1263. 1994.

Positive responses to televised beer advertisements associated with drinking and problems reported by 18 to 29-year-olds. Allan Wyllie, Jia Fang Zhang, and Sally Casswell. Addiction 93(5):749-760. 1998.

Alcohol advertising and motor vehicle fatalities. Henry Saffer, 1997.

Reinterpreting Latino culture in the commodity form: the case of alcohol advertising in the Mexican American community. Maria L. Alaniz. 1995.

Survey and experimental research on effects of alcohol advertising. Charles K. Atkin. 1995.

Tobacco and alcohol billboards in 50 Chicago neighborhoods: market segmentation to sell dangerous products to the poor. Diana P. Hackbarth, Barbara Silvestri, and William Cosper. 1994.

Television beer advertising and drinking knowledge, beliefs, and intentions among schoolchildren. Joel W. Grube and Lawrence Wallack. 1994.

Alcohol portrayals and alcohol advertising on television: content and effects on children and adolescents. Joel W. Grube. 1993.

Television alcohol commercials and under-age drinking. P.P. Aitken. 1989.

Myths, men and beer: an analysis of beer commercials on broadcast television, 1987. N. Postman, C. Nystrom, L.Strate, C. Weingartner. 1988.

The effects of alcohol advertising. Charles K. Atkin and Martin Block.1984.

The role of alcohol advertising in excessive and hazardous drinking. Charles K. Atkin, Kimberly Neuendorf, and Steven McDermott. 1983.

Type of document: non-peer-reviewed research report

Commercial and character slogan recall by children aged 9 to 11 years: Budweiser Frogs versus Bugs Bunny. Laurie Leiber. Center on Alcohol Advertising. San Francisco CA. 1996. 6 pages.

Key words: youth, advertising

Summary: This study compared children's recall of the Budweiser frogs' slogan with recall of the slogans of other cartoon characters. It found that more children between the ages of 9 and 11 correctly identified the Budweiser frogs' slogan (73%) than the slogan of Tony the Tiger (57%), Smokey Bear (43%), or the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (39%). Only Bugs Bunny's slogan topped the frogs' in recognition (80%). Eighty-one percent of the children identified beer as the product the Budweiser frogs promote. More boys than girls correctly identified both the slogan and the product.

The study surveyed 221 students in seven schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each student was interviewed privately and shown a still color photo of each cartoon character and asked to state both the character's slogan and, where appropriate, the product the character promotes.

The study was designed to test a way to determine the degree to which children notice beer ads. Anheuser-Busch had previously claimed that no method for doing so existed.

Practical implications: The study indicates that alcohol advertising that uses cartoon characters-in particular, the Budweiser frogs-- has a special appeal for children. Cartoon characters that mainly appear in Saturday morning programs aimed at children do not generate the same level of recall as cartoon characters that appear in programs supposedly targeted at adults. The alcohol industry should reduce or eliminate promotions that appeal to children.

HHS, SAMHSA and FDA launch "As You Age" Public Education Campaign
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a public education campaign to warn older adults about the dangers of misusing medications or mixing them with alcohol.

Prom + Graduation + Senior Beach Week = Underage Drinking Mayhem?
Parents can make a difference in preventing risky behaviors by educating themselves about the activities teens are often exposed to during these late springtime celebrations.

SAMHSA Launches "Too Smart To Start" A New National Program to Keep Pre-Teens From Alcohol
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, joined by the First Ladies from Ohio, and North Carolina, today launched a new national program to keep pre-teens, ages 9-13, from initiating alcohol consumption. The idea behind "Too Smart to Start" is to reach out to children and caregivers before children start drinking alcohol. View the press conference and press release.

While we do not endorse any practices which may in time bring with it health issues or be contrary to any rule of law, geographical code of practice or religious beliefs, moderate intake of alcohol in diluted form is thought by many to be beneficial to certain ailments, such as high blood pressure. Solar Cola is a non-alcoholic beverage which is suitable as a mixer and in our opinion gives a richer taste bringing with it all the qualities our cola is known for. 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2007  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator and Solar Cola are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

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