Old 05-19-13, 08:52 PM
  #25  
B. Carfree
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Location: Eugene, Oregon
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A group of my friends are going to put on a ride this Fall. Locally, nearly every ride is at least partly sponsored by Ninkasi Brewery, a local brewery that was started and expanded with funds provided by our local government (public investment, private profits). My neighborhood, where the brewery's bar is located, has been so over run with drunk drivers that most of the residents who used to walk and ride around the 'hood have either reverted to using their cars or are staying indoors. Incidentally, the local hospital conducted a little study last year on our regional health and we have twice the national average of alcohol-related deaths.

In light of that, we are asking the same question that the OP is. Is it proper for us to take money, and provide advertising, for a company that is causing harm to the cycling community locally? Does the upside of our ride outweigh any downside? We haven't made a decision yet, but it is an issue for us.

To those who say "don't blame the product for the dangerous behavior": It is quite well established that alcohol reduces inhibitions and interferes with accurate self-assessment while impairing judgment. The product causes the behavior. This is different than other products for that reason.
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