EDIT: Ban alcohol ads?

A bill that would ban alcohol companies from advertising on state property should not pass for many reasons.

While alcohol can negatively affect one’s health, it is legal for someone who is 21 years or older to possess and consume alcohol.

Because their product is legal, alcohol companies should be allowed to advertise wherever they please.

Also, from a business standpoint, it seems unlikely Massachusetts or any other state would support the ban. Alcohol contributes to state and local revenues. The more alcohol advertisements there are, the more alcohol sales there may be. Why would a state shut itself off to the opportunity to sell more alcoholic beverages and thereby increase its revenue? Setting limits on where alcohol companies can advertise seems like a poor business move.

It is worth noting that some institutions have agreed to such bans. In July, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority voluntarily removed alcohol advertisements from public transportation.

In addition to banning alcohol advertisements on state property, the proposed bill would make the MBTA’s ban permanent.

Rep. Martin Walsh, the bill’s sponsor, reported to The Daily Free Press that “the reason we are trying to get this bill passed is because a new governor could come in and change it back to the way it was before the ads were banned.”

However, laws are not always “permanent solutions.” Circumstances change. Technology advances. Codes of conduct become outdated. Laws can and should be altered over time. Walsh’s argument that the bill would “permanently solve” the alcohol advertising issue is not convincing.

Most importantly, though, arguing where alcohol companies should or should not be allowed to  advertise seems like a waste of time. There are other, more serious issues that the state should be focusing on such as keeping guns out of the hands of children.