Let's Not Drive Our Girl Scouts to Drink

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There are few things as iconic as a Girl Scout, just out of class, setting up her table then tantalizing passersby with a… sharp but floral double IPA. If that seems odd to most of us, a number of local bars see nothing wrong with teaming up with Scout-affiliated adults to organize “cookie pairings.” These events feature bartenders selecting brews that “pair” well with each of legendary seasonal cookies, sales of which benefit the organization renowned for encouraging leadership in young girls.

Alcohol Justice Public Affairs Director Michael Scippa condemned the promotion. “Leadership cannot mean leading kids to beer,” he said. “You would think the adults running these bars don’t need to be told this. You’d be wrong.”

Exposure to messaging about alcohol is associated with increased drinking in youth. It’s the simple principle that underlies advertising campaigns, and Alcohol Justice places breaking these links near the top of its goals for positive change. As with other alcohol-centric philanthropic efforts, even if sellers are donating their profits, they reap the benefit of publicity and marketing. In return, their "charity" strengthens the link between being, as Girls Scouts of Northern California Senior Director Kymberly Miller put it in an interview with NBC Bay Area, “a go-getter, an innovator, a risk-taker, and a leader…” and a drinker. These bars need to know that they are not doing these girls a favor, only making it more likely they hand Big Alcohol another underage customer.

READ MORE about how the alcohol industry markets to youth.

READ MORE about LADAPA's local efforts to reduce youth exposure to alcohol advertising.

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