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Officials target drinking display
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A controversial beer pong display at a local Walgreens came down over the weekend after leaders said it promoted binge drinking.
The display in the Walgreens in the new University Square complex featured ping-pong balls and red plastic cups.
Although there were no connections to alcohol in the display itself, some University of Wisconsin students said it was obviously promoting the popular drinking game beer pong. Other students said they felt it was silly to make Walgreens take the display down.
UW Dean of Student Lori Berquam first heard about the display from a concerned parent who has a freshman daughter at the University of Wisconsin.
“The display is marketed in a predominantly first-year student area, very few of whom are 21,” Berquam said. “And the display was obviously indicating something to do with alcohol.”
Berquam attempted to contact the store’s manager last Thursday but was only able to speak with the assistant manager. The manager has since taken responsibility for the display.
Walgreens officials were not available to comment, but employees confirmed the display was taken down.
Pruzinsky said asking Walgreens take the display down is not going to stop people from playing the game.
“Students are going to play beer pong regardless,” Pruzinsky said.
Pruzinsky said if officials really wanted to stop the game from being played they would do more than just make the store take down the display.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is another opponent to the display.
“Our impression is that although Walgreens is a good company, the display seems to send the wrong message,” said Josh Westcott, spokesperson for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
This message, Berquam said, is one that promotes heavy drinking, which can put students’ safety at risk.
“This is something that we as a campus continue to struggle with,” Berquam said. “I’m concerned about the safety of all our students, and things like this heighten my concern.”
While the display itself may not be a huge issue, both Berquam and Falk agreed that it is indicative of a greater problem: alcohol abuse.
“[The beer pong display] is a good marketing ploy, but I don’t know if it’s necessarily a good thing for a business to promote,” said UW junior Garrett Notstad.
UW sophomore Brett Johnson agreed that while the display was a good marketing ploy, the Midwest’s drinking culture “could be a serious issue — though it depends on the individual.”
Falk is currently immersed in an initiative to address alcohol abuse in Dane County aimed at promoting a cultural shift in attitudes toward drinking.
“People always associate alcohol abuse with the campus and downtown area,” Wescott said. “But the truth is, it’s a countywide issue.”
According to Wescott, there were more than 3,000 arrests and citations for drunken driving in Dane County last year.
“These are not statistics we should be proud of,” Wescott said.
Falk’s $250,000 initiative released last Wednesday includes additional patrols for drunken drivers on Friday and Saturday nights, an early intervention program to prevent middle school students from abusing alcohol in future years and an emphasis on changing the cultural acceptance of alcohol overconsumption.
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I’m pretty sure the only reason they took that down was to avoid negative publicity—the university, other than being the landlord, has NO authority over that store or what legal products it markets.
Guess what? Now everybody know where to get there pong supplies on campus. Kudos to that Walgreens manager—mission accomplished.
Walgreens selling plastic cups and ping pong balls?!?! Oh the Humanity!! Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the Children!!
Seriously, a presidential election coming up, an economic meltdown, and the Brewers first postseason in 26 years, and you STILL couldn’t find anything to write about?
Ahhh, America! Land of the free! Good thing we don’t live in a fascist country where government institutions dictate the operations of private enterprises. I for one am proud that the UW and Kathleen Falk have the good sense to stop this sort of promotion. I probably would have drank myself to death had my eyes fallen on that display.
How about the University does something meaningful in order to increase campus safety. Telling stores how they can and cannot market to customers will do no such good. Its time for the administration here to worry less about our image as a drinking school and actually pay attention to the real needs of the student body.
That parent needs to let her kid grow up and enter the real world….
How dare they display ping pong balls and cups! This is an outrage!
this is stupid. stupid moms
That freshman parent sent her daughter to the wrong school if they are worried about alcohol consumption around campus
Wait, how does that sophomore know of beer pong? Hmmm…..