PETA’s Senseless New Campaign: Drink Beer to Save Cows

PETA might be doing some really good work but what’s with the horrible, irresponsible advertising!

PETA: “Drinking Responsibly Means Not Drinking Milk – Save a Cow’s Life”! Alcohol has been proved to be a direct cause of breast, colon, prostrate, liver and other cancers. Since when did promoting alcoholism in young college kids become a healthy practice, ask experts. (Photo: The Quint)

PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) sure knows how to crack international headlines. In its latest series of advertisements placed near America’s hardest-partying school, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, PETA spoofs the 90s ‘Got milk?’ campaign and turns it to a more frat-friendly ‘Got Beer?’ slogan.

A PETA-sponsored billboard, saying, “ It’s official: beer is better for you than milk. Studies show that beer can strengthen bones and extend life, while milk is linked to obesity, diabetes and cancer. Drink responsibly: Don’t drink milk”.

This is not the first time PETA has run this campaign.

(Photo courtesy: PETA)

From the year 2000, the “Got Beer?” slogan keeps resurrecting every few years from PETA’s archives like a bad penny – of course, it’s pulled down every single time after courting severe criticism and backlash from activists. But to push beer to young college kids when we know that alcohol is the direct cause of seven different types of cancers, is downright disgusting, irresponsible and low – even for PETA.

Known for head-turning, shocking ads, PETA does cross the line sometimes. Look at the gallery below and tell us what you think of it?

PETA resorted to fat-shaming in billboards across Florida, United States to persuade people to turn vegetarian.

PETA sent this ad to a hospital in US to display on their walls “in order to help keep heart patients out of the OR.” Sorry nurses! We greatly appreciate your services and would never reduce the profession to titillating soft porn. 

PETA often gets celebs to pose nude, but this ad featuring Joanna Krupa with a crucifix hit a nerve, the Catholic Church was outraged.

Seriously, reduce women to a piece of meat? And that too with a bad, high-school level photoshop skills? Not cool!

Sexist. Sexist. Sexist.

Got Sense? PETA’s Campaign Is Ridiculous, Insane and Puts Cows Before Kids: Experts

The claim that beer is healthier than milk has no scientific or nutritional backing. (Photo courtesy: Reddit)

The reason why the largest animal group in the world thinks it should promote alcoholism to under-grads is because the dairy industry is allegedly cruel to cows as they are raised for the sheer purpose of producing milk.

One of India’s leading anti-tobacco activists, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, also a senior mouth cancer specialist at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, is appalled by this cheap, recycled publicity stunt by PETA.

Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen. It is the second most important preventable cause of non-communicable diseases as per UN declaration of 2010. Alcohol industry has been promoting this pseudo-science of safe level of alcohol. While wine may have some unproven beneficial role, little is known about the spirits that vast majority drink. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be very harmful to the foetus. It can cause the child to have a range of lifelong health issues. 

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor, Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital

The fact is that the research on alcohol is mixed and often conflicting. There are reports that a glass of wine is as good as an hour of gymming or that drinking moderately slows down ageing, it’s good for the heart while other more credible organisations claim that alcohol is the direct cause of seven different cancers.

While milk is credited with being the powerhouse of calcium for bones, its benefits are also doubted from time-to-time but no way does that imply that students should wipe out milk moustaches and replace them with... foam?!

In order to promote veganism, advocating alcoholism is the WORST advice one can give. Once in a while consumption of alcohol is fine but regular consumption can lead to all types of health issues, including, heart troubles, liver ailments and cancer. 

Huda Shaikh, Clinical Dietician

Also Read: High On Calories: Alcohol is Third Highest Cause of Obesity

Ditch the Beer, Not the Dairy Because There Is No Such Thing As a Safe Drinking Limit!

More than 11% of Indians are binge drinkers as compared to the global average of 16%. That’s not all, the per capita consumption of alcohol in India increased 38%, from 1.6 litres in 2003-05 to 2.2 litres in 2010-12, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO). (Photo courtesy: Reddit)

According to the data compiled by the 2013 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in India, one person dies every 90 minutes due to alcohol consumption. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications affecting every organ in your body, including the brain.

The fact that alcohol is a drug is easily forgotten by many. According to Professor David Nut of the reputed Imperial College London, there is no such thing as a safe drinking limit for three reasons:

1) Alcohol is a toxin which kills microorganisms, precisely why it is used to sterilise needles and skin. In order to clear alcohol from the body, it is first metabolised into acetaldehyde, a far more toxic substance.

2) A small percentage of people get addicted to alcohol from their first drink – there is no science to predict who will fall prey or not.

3) The studies which prove the heart health benefits of alcohol are skewed and not controlled. For all the diseases linked with alcohol there is no evidence of any benefit of low alcohol intake, meanwhile the risks of liver failures, heart attacks, cancers and brain damage.

Seriously PETA, what was wrong with showing cruel, slaughterhouse footage to college kids to promote vegetarianism. Too old school?

What do you guys think about it? Team milk and Team alcohol, socialise the story on FB, Twitter or whatever the cool kids are using these days!