PETA asks, `got beer?'
Casey Grabenstein
Scene Writer
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently claimed that cows are mistreated during the milking process. PETA has attempted to draw attention to this issue by claiming that other drinks like beer are actually better for you than milk. In their advertising campaign, PETA parodied the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board's "Got Milk?" slogan, replacing the word "milk" with "beer." College students have been waiting for this their entire lives. Someone is actually trying to convince them to drink more beer.
According to PETA, in addition to being loaded with fat and cholesterol, dairy products are frequently contaminated with pesticides and drugs, and they are linked to diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Also, "dairy cows" today are treated like milk machines. They are continually impregnated to keep them lactating so farmers may take their milk. Trying to save time and money, farmers often cause cuts, injuries and electric shocks to cows' udders.
"Knowing how cows suffer in the dairy industry is enough to make anyone lactose intolerant," says PETA president Ingrid Newkirk.
This is an interesting argument by PETA, but when was the last time someone was seen "binge" drinking milk? Or has one ever seen someone pulled over for driving under the influence of milk?
Many anti-alcohol groups have picked up on this theme and disagree with PETA's rather irresponsible stance. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) are outraged at the publicity of a potentially dangerous substance.
Unfortunately for PETA, most college students side with MADD and SADD. According to a Memolink.com survey, nearly all of those surveyed believe drinking beer is less responsible than drinking milk, suggesting that most respondents do not accept the position of PETA. Even though the argument presented by PETA seems to have fallen on its face, one must admire the creative attempt to protect the welfare of animals. So, the next time someone is funneling some milk, think about the cows.
All Scene Stories for Monday, April 10, 2000
