By William J. Bennett Mario M. Cuomo
The writers are co-chairmen of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

(Marijuananews note: Giving new meaning to the old saw that "an ill wind blows no good," two of the biggest windbags in DEAland, the former drug-addicted Drug Czar Bennett and Mario M. Cuomo, claim that the need is so great that they can’t do anything without huge amounts of new money. Of course, they know very well that they will never get the funding for an anti-alcohol campaign. Perfect.)

PDFA CAN’T COMPETE WITH ALCOHOL PROMOTION

To the Editor:

A June 2 editorial advocating an amendment that would include alcohol in the Government’s anti-drug campaign misses the essence of our concerns.
See
New York Times Takes Notice of Partnership's Opposition To Alcohol Warnings:
"Evidence abounds that beer is more popular with adolescents than marijuana."

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America wholeheartedly supports the concept of a national advertising campaign aimed at underage drinking. You can focus on illegal drug use with advertising. Backed by the proper research, you can do the same for underage drinking.

But you cannot do both effectively with the current Federal appropriation. That’s the issue. The Government’s anti-drug campaign is backed by $195 million in Federal money. The alcohol industry spends billions on marketing and promotion each year. To compete effectively, the Government would require hundreds of millions more to change teen-age attitudes about drinking.

WILLIAM J. BENNETT
MARIO M. CUOMO