The University of Wisconsin radio network has severed their relationship with both Budweiser and Miller for the upcoming football season and beyond.  It's an effort by the school and the state to help address the rampant problem of binge drinking and drunk driving we face here in Wisconsin.

The University stands to lose almost $500,000 in revenue because of the decision.  In these times of severe cutbacks by universities because of lack of funding, that is not an amount to be taken lightly.  But, in my opinion, it's more symbolic than practical.

Not a day goes by where I don't read a news story about someone who has been arrested on their fifth, sixth, seventh and in the case of a guy around here recently, twelfth DUI.  That's pretty sad.

Now, someone explain to me how not having beer commercials in college football games is going to stop it.

Solving the problem is very simple.  You come up with a three strikes law.  You get busted for DWI three times, you go to jail for ten, maybe twenty years.  It's not about your driving privileges, it's about the threat of a long stay at the crossbar Hilton that may actually get some people's attention.  You drink, you drive drunk, you get to be Bubba's buddy at FMUTA prison for the next ten years. 

Removing advertising does nothing to solve the problem.  No one watches a beer commercial and runs out and buys a six pack.  In fact, if you are on your twelfth DUI, you are probably drinking something other than a major brand anyway, what with your legal fees and all.

The problem with living in a blue state is that corporations and not people are held accountable for social misbehavior.  That guy who just got busted for his twelfth DUI isn't at fault, he is a victim of a greedy, manipulative beer company who comes to his home in the middle of the night and whispers in his ear "it's okay, we'll brew more, drink all you want."  Nowhere is the soused moron, out driving with a BAC of .42 held accountable for his actions.  I think police field tests ought to include a test where they  wet your hand and tell you to stick it in a 5,000 watt electric socket.  If you are drunk enough to do that, you most likely shouldn't be driving a vehicle. 

Just like guns and prescription medication, until we as a society punish and not coddle the abusers, these people will continue to think that they are above the law, commercials or not.