Open Letter to Governor Bev Perdue Regarding Blast

April 5, 2011






Dear Governor Perdue,



Last year, you took a very courageous stand by asking the makers of Four Loko to, voluntarily, stop producing their product. However, a new malt liquor is entering North Carolina that is just as dangerous. On April 5, Pabst Brewing Company released "Blast By Colt 45," a high octane malt liquor that contains 12% alcohol. The drink also comes in fruity flavors such as raspberry watermelon.

Although, the liquor does not contain caffeine, what makes it more dangerous than Four Loko is Pabst's marketing campaign. While Four Loko was mostly popular with college kids, Blast is using Hip Hop music to target a younger "urban" audience. It is well known that the terms "Hip Hop" and "urban" are used mostly when referring to "inner city" African American and Latino youth. The company has hired popular Hip Hop artist, Snoop Dogg along with video models such as Rosa Acosta to pitch the fruity beverage. It must be noted that recently Snoop Dogg has appeared on two programs that are extremely popular with preteens and teenagers, Black Entertainment Television's "106 and Park" and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

What is sad, is that while many people spoke out against Four Loko, the silence has been deafening in response to Blast. Unfortunately, we still live in a society where the lives of African American and Latino children are valued less than the lives of others. So, Governor Perdue, we are asking that you speak out against Pabst Brewing Company's "Blast" with the same passion in which you addressed the makers of Four Loko.

While the drink should be a major concern for African American and Latino parents, in reality, the issue should concern all of the citizens of this state. To borrow from a popular saying, "first they came for the Black children and I said nothing. Then they came for the Latino children and again I said nothing. Then they came for my children and there was no one left to say anything."


Thank you,

Minister Paul Scott
Durham, NC
(919) 451-8283

Beer and Watermelon

According to the News and Observer today, N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Commission Chairman Doug Fox quit yesterday after he was busted for, allegedly, sending that infamous picture of watermelons in front of the White House to his homies , last November.

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1515324.html

Most folks know that I have no love for the NC ABC in the first place. I always thought that they were a little too cozy when dealing with an alcohol industry that imports barrels of high powered malt liquor into the black community, everyday.

http://www.ncabc.com/product/


I remember back in the 90's trying to get the ABC and other agencies to even look at the amount of poison being pumped into "urban" areas was like pulling teeth from a mountain lion.

So, I'm not surprised that the head honcho of the agency would find the watermelon photo humorous.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/image/47942

It just makes you wonder, what other jokes are being kicked around high level government offices that we never hear about.

"Hey Jim Bob, you hear the one about the little darkie who drank so many 40oz's and ate so much fried chicken and watermelon that his stomach exploded...."


Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com