The Sun Journal article on obesity (Nov. 19) provided useful information most already know, but need to be reminded. Two related articles, however, did make me angry. The first was about the Federal Trade Commission studying the marketing of junk-food and fast-food to children with images attractive to children. The second was about the movie “Fast Food Nation,” which slams the fast-food industry. My anger comes from that marketing and advertising for another product harmful if overused – beer – isn’t undergoing this scrutiny.

Cigarette makers have been rightfully under attack for marketing their product to youth.

Health advocates, bureaucrats, and liberal filmmakers are now giving fast-food the tobacco treatment. It is a big leap from the advertising of cigarettes to the advertising of fast food, which is legal to eat at any age.

That leap goes over advertising of alcoholic beverages, especially beer. If applying the “Marlboro Man” standard, many ads for beer target minors. Some anti-tobacco advocates defend their easier stand on beer ads by saying beer, unlike cigarettes, can be used in moderation without harm to the user.

If the case, the same can be said for fast-food and snack-foods. If health advocates, government watchdogs, and Michael Moore protégés aren’t willing to go after beer advertising as aggressively as cigarette advertising, then they have no cause to complain about fast-food advertising or any other edible that is unhealthy if overused, but legal for people of all ages.

Mark Prindall, Poland