Via Reason, apparently the folks at MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) are annoyed by the President Obama’s “beer summit”. The President of the Delaware Chapter of MADD, Nancy Raynor, is quoted as being “concerned about what teens and children take away from seeing the president drinking on TV”.
As the American Beverage Association reasonably points out, what does the president having a been have to do with the cause of stopping drunk driving? Nothing at all. The President himself isn’t likely to get behind the wheel for another 3 1/2 years (add 4 more to that if he is re-elected).
This isn’t the first time that MADD has displayed neo-temperance leanings. They have come out strongly against any effort to allow alcohol use in legal settings, or decriminalize some alcohol consumption. Those efforts include the Amethyst Initiative to reduce the drinking age to 18 from 21, and supported by University Presidents and Administrators who believe it would help curb college binge drinking.
Update: According to Politco, Raynor claims her comments were taken out of context, and denies that MADD is a prohibitionist organization.
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