This holiday season, Kohl’s, the national chain of department stores with
817 locations nationwide, is promoting heavy and high-risk drinking by selling
miniature versions of drinking games involving darts, roulette, and ping-pong in
its stores and online. Intentionally or not, these games promote excessive
binge drinking, are entirely insensitive to societal alcohol problems, and are
inappropriate gift items for a popular department store such as Kohl’s. The Beer
Pong game was also listed on the Linens 'n Things website.
Click
here to view the items on Kohl's website.
Click here to view photos.
Similar items were found at Urban Outfitters.com. According to their corporate website, their stores "create[s] an emotional bond with the 18 to 30 year old target customer we serve" yet they are selling products promoting alcohol and drug use to a target customer base, a portion of which is underage.
During the holidays, traffic is in high gear and Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a proclamation declaring December as Drinking and Drugged Driving Awareness Month in Oregon. The proclamation also kicked off the Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest national campaign. Driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs is a leading factor in traffic fatalities in Oregon and across the nation, especially during the holidays, and games that promote binge drinking are not helping to reduce the risk.
We ask you to consider writing Kevin Mansell, president of Kohl's, or to Urban Outfitters, to insist that they remove these items from their websites and store shelves. Oregon Partnership has written letters to these companies, and we will continue to fight to make sure these irresponsible retailers stop selling such appalling products.
Address to Urban Outfitters:
Urban Outfitters, Inc.
5000 South
Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 19112-1495
Tel: 215-454-5500
Text of a sample letter to Kohl's:
Dear Mr. Mansell:
I was appalled to learn that Kohl’s is selling miniature versions of drinking games involving darts, roulette, and ping-pong, under the “Elements” brand name in its stores and online. In the online description of the roulette shot game, players are directed to “[s]pin the wheel to make your opponents take a shot or have one yourself!” In a review of a game called “Drinko,” another drinking game that has since been removed from the Kohl’s website, Dealnews.com facetiously noted that “[t]he number for the nearest poison control center is not included.”
Alcohol poisoning, underage, and high-risk drinking are no joke. Kohl’s’ drinking games promote hazardous drinking, including among underage persons. They are tasteless and irresponsible gift items, not fitting for the holiday season; especially for a popular department store such as Kohl’s. A major 2003 report from the National Academies, "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility," emphasized that macro-policy is a necessary but not sufficient means to address underage drinking. In addition to government policy, reducing underage drinking and the harmful consequences of excessive alcohol consumption is a collective responsibility. I ask only that Kohl’s does its share, by avoiding the promotion of irresponsible and dangerous behavior through the merchandise it chooses to sell.
Towards that end, I respectfully ask that Kohl’s remove the aforementioned drinking games from its website and store shelves. Please let me know your intentions regarding my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Click here to send an electronic letter to Kohl's.
Click here to download a copy of the letter.
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