"Beer Games" is Bad Idea

A forthcoming one-hour television special broadcast called the "World Beer Games" is a bad idea and may contribute to the abuse of alcohol. Sixteen teams from around the world will compete for the title of "world's best beer nation" and a silver-plated beer-keg trophy. Research has demonstrated that drinking games encourage the rapid consumption of large amounts of alcohol within short periods of time. Therefore, they constitute alcohol abuse and are associated with numerous drinking problems.

Societies with low rates of drinking problems tend to encourage both moderate alcohol consumption and abstinence as equally acceptable choices. However, they find the abuse of alcohol totally unacceptable by anyone under any circumstance. Glorifying alcohol abuse in the "World Beer Games" program is constitutionally protected free speech. However, it is highly irresponsible and reflects the very poorest of judgment.