ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 11, 1996 TAG: 9611120029
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press
State Alcoholic Beverage Control stores should take hard liquor off their shelves if booze companies advertise on Virginia's television or radio stations, a state lawmaker says.
Del. George Grayson, D-Williamsburg, on Friday asked the state ABC Board to consider the ban after the nation's distilled-spirits industry's recent decision to break its decades-old ban on TV and radio advertising.
Grayson said his proposal was intended to stir debate and provide a financial incentive to liquor companies to refrain from broadcast advertising.
``My sense is that if they threaten our children, we go after their pocketbook,'' Grayson said. ``This advertising is extremely slick and extremely compelling. The last thing I want to see is more opportunity for young people to indulge in an unhealthy behavior.''
But ABC Chairwoman Anne Petera said the board was unlikely to begin banning liquor sales based on advertising decisions.
``I would not see this board taking a position to engage in punitive action in response to something that's not illegal,'' Petera said. ``I can't rule it out entirely, but to take action now would be premature.''
She said it may be ``a stretch'' to suggest that hard liquor ads would promote more drinking among Virginia youth.
``There's no evidence to suggest there's some turn among youth toward spirits,'' she said. ``The popular perception is that beer is the choice among youth.''
Beer and wine advertising has long been customary on TV.
State regulations prohibit the advertising of hard liquor on Virginia TV and radio stations. And the broadcast networks have so far declined to accept ads for hard liquor.
But lifting the voluntary national ban means ads could make their way into Virginia homes through cable networks.
The move toward ads comes six months after the Seagram Co. began defying the ban to run commercials for several of its brands in scattered media markets around the country.
Grayson said he would consider pushing for legislation in the General Assembly in January if the ABC board declines to act on his request.
Beyer plans
race relations
conference
Associated Press
NORFOLK - Lt. Gov. Don Beyer on Saturday said he is organizing a conference to promote better race relations.
At a speech at the Black Caucus Legislative Conference at Norfolk State University, Beyer said he's working with the Legislative Black Caucus and community and religious leaders to organize the event.
Beyer, the expected Democratic nominee for governor in 1997, said the meeting will be held next month to provide time to develop proposals for the upcoming General Assembly session that starts in January.
``Virginia can lead again, but only if we build a commonwealth of equal opportunity,'' Beyer said.
Beyer said community and religious leaders need to work together to end hate crimes and promote racial healing. Incidents of church burning and vandalism are evidence of the problem, he said.
Beyer also spoke about his ideas to promote equal opportunity in education and economic development, and mentioned his concern about a minority scholarship at Northern Virginia Community College being challenged as illegal discrimination against white students.
``The affirmative action that this minority scholarship promotes is not reverse discrimination but a simple acknowledgment that we do not live in a colorblind world,'' Beyer said of the Forte Minority Student Scholarship. ``It enhances diversity on college campuses and provides access on the ladder of opportunity to qualified minority students.''
Beyer said he plans to write U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley to urge the Department of Education to endorse and retain the program.
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