cannabisnews.com: NASCAR, Drugs, and Beer





NASCAR, Drugs, and Beer
Posted by CN Staff on August 16, 2002 at 19:59:06 PT
By Jacob Sullum
Source: Reason Magazine
This summer the federal government proudly announced that NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer had signed up as a spokesman for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Spencer and his family will “demonstrate to America’s youth the positive consequences of staying drug free” and “remind parents of the importance of being involved in their children’s lives.”
The Center for Science in the Public Interest objects that the government is being inconsistent: Where are the media campaigns to remind barbers of the importance of cutting hair, remind doctors of the importance of curing disease, and remind actors of the importance of studying their lines?Actually, the inconsistency that CSPI detects has to do with the links between NASCAR and beer. The organization has a $7.5 million Busch sponsorship deal, and individual drivers promote brands such as Coors and Miller. CSPI notes that Spencer’s Web site shows him wearing a Budweiser hat and posing behind cases of Busch. It also sells shot glasses and foam beer can holders, “only a couple of mouse clicks” from links to the government’s anti-drug propaganda. “As beer promoters, Jimmy Spencer and NASCAR are the wrong messengers,” says George Hacker, director of CSPI’s Alcohol Policies Project. “They’re no better than the Budweiser frogs as anti-drug spokesmen. It really shows that the drug czar has a blind spot when it comes to booze.”This hypocrisy angle is familiar. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which produces the ads for the government’s media campaign, has itself been supported by manufacturers of beer, cigarettes, coffee, and tranquilizers. A drug-free America is the last thing these companies want to see.But CSPI, which has long railed against tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine, may be the real deal. Presumably, it would like the government to send the same message about these drugs that it sends about illegal intoxicants: All use is abuse, and complete abstinence is the only responsible choice.For those of us who have trouble with this message, Jimmy Spencer’s role as an anti-drug spokesman raises a different issue. Since driving a race car is far more dangerous than using drugs, whether legal or illegal, can this guy really be a credible symbol of caution?Jacob Sullum is a Reason senior editor.Source: Reason Magazine (US)Author: Jacob SullumPublished: August 16, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Reason FoundationContact: letters reason.comWebsite: http://www.reason.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Crossfire: Do Drug Ads Work?http://freedomtoexhale.com/cf.htmPaul Armentano: Reason for Skepticism http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13694.shtmlDrug Czar Taps Beer-Soaked NASCARhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13642.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 17, 2002 at 20:52:33 PT
Rainbow
That's a really nice thought except this is a labor of love and I don't think they would accept that as a payment! I sure wish they would though! Heck if we had a million dollars they'd still say no no no no we think you all are crazy.
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Comment #9 posted by Rainbow on August 17, 2002 at 20:43:38 PT
Sponsors
Maybe Cannabisnews can be a sponsor;Sponsorship Opportunities with Jimmy Spencer:For sponsorship opportunities on Jimmy Spencer's NASCAR Busch 
Series or NASCAR Winston Cup Teams, please contact:Jim Melvin
Director of Marketing
Spencer Motor VenturesBusch is beer.Winston is cigarettes.I think he needs a little green in his life too. CheersRainbow
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Comment #8 posted by karkulus on August 17, 2002 at 13:30:35 PT:
 Thanks,Dan B!
    I've been viewing this forum and enjoying everyones comments for a couple of years but the news has been so interesting lately I just thought I might join the fray!
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Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on August 17, 2002 at 12:12:32 PT
know drugs, arrest prohibition
I couldn't find anything on Spencer's own website relating to beer, beyond the name Busch; maybe it's been changed since CSPI looked at it.Here it is:
http://www.jimmyspencer.net/busch_team.html
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Comment #6 posted by Dan B on August 17, 2002 at 11:35:07 PT:
karkulus
I haven't seen you here before, so I wanted to extend a welcome to you from Cannabis News. You have a great way of helping us visualize just how stupid getting a NASCAR driver to support the war on some drugs really is--and with so few words, too. I look forward to reading your future comments.And, I apologize in advance if it turns out that you've been here a lonbg time, and I just didn't see your name. I've been gone a few days, so that's entirely possible.Dan B
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Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on August 17, 2002 at 00:45:54 PT
Risk seeking
I couldn't find anything on Spencer's own website relating to beer, beyond the name Busch; maybe it's been changed since CSPI looked at it. As I.S. pointed out, the race car angle is really interesting. According to sociologists, a major reason for teenage drug experimentation is "high risk seeking" or something like that.
http://www.jimmyspencer.net
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Comment #4 posted by karkulus on August 17, 2002 at 00:13:30 PT
Or.. How about...
    Spencer's "dis-spenced" all over the track and Walters is all over the wall! 
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Comment #3 posted by karkulus on August 16, 2002 at 23:49:24 PT
Shhhh!
   Don't tell walters it's dangerous to drink and drive!! Maybe he and this Spencer guy will share a couple of six packs and then take a spin around the track..WHEEee!!...SPLAT!!...But seriously folks,you know the kids can see thru this bullshit ..I hope they run those ads because they're just gonna get laughed at!
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Comment #2 posted by Industrial Strength on August 16, 2002 at 23:19:08 PT
Thought provoking
Huh, thinking, rarely generated. "Since driving a race car is far more dangerous than using drugs, whether legal or illegal... ."I like that angle alot more than even the beer angle. So applicable. Never heard anyone employ it. 
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Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on August 16, 2002 at 21:20:15 PT
Oh the hypocrisy! 
Lets see, it is OK for guys to use Viagra (which sponsors a race car) for recreational pleasure (sex). People have died from Viagra overdoses. And for numerous beer sponsored race car (Recreational drunkness). But cannabis usage for health or pleasure is a big no no. 
What next a Ritalin sponsored race car. Ritalin is my anti-drug. Viagra is my anti-frug. Beer is my anti-drug. Fudamentalist religion and bossing other around is my anti-drug.
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