The Nov. 21 business section was noteworthy more for its advertising than its news content. In a state where alcohol is the primary drug of abuse and in a geographic region in which youth alcohol use is a very significant problem, I would have hoped the Sun Journal would be more responsible.

The article is accompanied by a 12-inch graphic of a beer bottle with superimposed images of various female body parts. The headline focuses on efforts to market “sexy beer.” The graphic is gratuitous at best.

On the next page there is a tie-in to a local manufacturer. That is interesting. To make the story more worthwhile, the Sun Journal might have talked to local police, school officials or community advocates about the impact the creation of these sweet “alcohol-pop” beverages is having on kids in the 13-20 age group.

A recent report from the National Academy of Sciences suggests that these beverages are tremendously popular with underage drinkers. Studies indicate that advertising for these beverages is seen more frequently and by larger numbers of people under age 21 than by those of legal drinking age.

It would have been useful if Mr. Coulombe had been asked what his company is doing to reduce youth overexposure to advertising for his product and what other steps he might be taking to reduce the appeal of his products to kids ages 13-20 in our area.

Where was the rest of the story?

Wendy Tardif,

community health manager

Healthy Androscoggin, Lewiston