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Alcohol Justice: New Name of Marin Institute, formerly known as the Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

In reporting its new name, the former Marin Institute finally acknowledged that "we aren't a research organization as 'institute' implies."1 The fact that the Marin Institute wasn't a research organization has long been noted by observers, although the activist group has often presented itself to the public and media as engaging in research.

The Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems was created by the Buck Trust, whose founder specifically directed that its resources be used exclusively for the good of the people of Marin County, California.2 In spite of that clear mandate, the Institute now engages in nation-wide neo-temperance activities and has been recognized for its activities by the Prohibition Party.3

The Marin Institute

• Aggressively promotes neo-prohibition alcohol policies.
• Ignores repeated Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations that have all concluded that alcohol producers do not target underage persons in their ads and marketing. The Marin Institute continues to insist, in spite of the evidence, that such targeting is widespread.4
• Presents attacks of alcohol beverage vendors as comparable to illegal drug pushers victimizing our young people.
• Insists on using the highly misleading term "binge" to refer to alcohol consumption that may not be high enough to cause any level of intoxication.5
• Promotes the temperance-oriented "A Matter of Degree" program, whose own supporters have reported it to be ineffective in reducing alcohol problems.
• Promotes alcohol beverage bans.
• Promotes the false belief that alcohol problems are increasing in the U.S., although they are actually decreasing.
• Crusades against First Amendment constitutional free speech rights in pursuit of its agenda.

Bruce Lee Livingston, the executive Director and CEO of the newly re-named Alcohol Justice corporation has publicly stated that there are no health benefits associated with the moderate consumption of alcohol. He insists that the medical consensus is based on a myth created by propaganda from "big alcohol."6 Not only is Alcohol Justice clearly not a research organizatioin, but its director rejects the conclusion of medical organizations and agencies, including those of the United States government.