New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, The Marin Institute and Corporations and Health Watch Hold Press Conference on Alcohol Advertising in the New York City Public Transit System
On November 8, 2007 New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, The Marin Institute and Corporations and Health Watch held a joint press conference at the New York City Hall steps to draw attention to recent research on alcohol advertising in the New York City transit system.
At this event, a representative of Assemblyman Ortiz's office highlighted two new New York bills, A9506 and A9507, which seek to ban alcohol advertising in the subway system and which would impose fines for violations.
Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director, and Michele Simon, Research and Policy Director, of the Marin Institute reviewed findings from their recent study "The End of the Line for Alcohol Ads on Public Transit," in which they found that the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has one of the most permissive policies on alcohol advertising in public transit in the country.
Finally, Dr. Nicholas Freudenberg, distinguished professor of public health at Hunter College, City University of New York, discussed findings from a July 2007 Corporations and Health Watch study demonstrating that of the total advertisements observed in New York City subway stations during June and July 2007, nearly 30% were for alcoholic beverages.
The three organizations highlighted the negative health and social impact of alcohol advertising on New Yorkers and particularly on underage children who are exposed to such advertisements daily in their travels through the MTA system.
