TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Many Florida State University students didn’t know what to make of ads in the FSVIew & Florida Flambeau last week that proclaimed beer is better than milk.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals revived its “Got Beer?” ads in college papers across the nation and Canada on Thursday. The ads, which first ran two years ago, are a spoof of the “Got Milk?” ads. The group says a Harvard University Medical School study reveals reasons why beer may have some health benefits and milk may have health risks.
“Nobody thinks of beer as a health food,” said Bruce Friedrich, PETA’s director of vegan outreach. “Everybody thinks of juice and soy. The point is that milk is worse for than you than beer.”
A freshman at FSU said the ad will raise some eyebrows.
“To advertise beer is extreme, but that’s what PETA does,” said Jessica Butera, a fashion student. “But it does get your attention, especially in a college town.”
PETA’s ad directs people to MilkSucks.com where they can read about health risks to people and animals. Dairy products are laden with fat and cholesterol and are linked to problems like heart disease and cancer, according to the Web site. And female calves which often replace their older mothers are slaughtered soon after birth for the rennet in their stomachs, an ingredient in most commercial cheeses, according to PETA.
PETA representatives said they chose the independent paper, FSVIew & Florida Flambeau because it serves students at a top 10 party school. The ad comes at time when the school is trying to downplay that status. Recently, a national outreach speaker made two presentations on FSU’s campus about alcohol awareness. And the university has received a $700,000 Robert Wood Johnson grant to help curb alcohol abuse.
Some students at FSU thought the ad was promoting drinking beer, but they said they would still check out the Web site.
“It’s surprising,” said Riz Dagani, a senior biology student. “I wouldn’t have thought it would be in our paper. It just seems wrong.”
But, Dagani added that she would look at the Web site.
“I’d be curious to see what they’re talking about,” Dagani said.
But one student said the ad’s message didn’t pique her interest at all.
“That wouldn’t get me to go to the Web site,” said Latoya Dunn, a senior biology/pre-medicine student. “I don’t believe in drinking, but if I did, I still wouldn’t go.”
Another student said it’d be tough to get her stop drinking milk.
“I don’t like that message that beer’s more important for college kids,” said Jennifer Harned, a junior business student. “I don’t like it because I like milk.”