|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 21 December 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Bookmarks with beer logo irk school authorities by Shanika Sriyananda Students of leading schools in Colombo have become the latest target for the promotional campaign of a prominent beer company. Campaign paraphernalia in the form of bookmarks designed as a beer bottle of the company with their brand logo were reportedly being distributed among schoolchildren free-of-charge. When contacted by 'Sunday Observer' authorities, some of the leading schools in Colombo confirmed that bookmarks with ribbons of the brand colour of the beer concerned have been distributed among schoolboys. According to informed sources, hundreds of bookmarks are now in circulation among schoolchildren. The bookmarks were reportedly distributed at the school gates, at main junctions near schools and through friends. S. A Galappaththy, Vice Principal, D.S. Senanayake College, said that he had received information about the 'beer promotional campaign' and disclosed that a considerable number of bookmarks were now in the hands of children. " These bookmarks have been given to children outside the school. It is unethical to use schoolboys to increase their customers", he said. However, D.S. Senanayake College authorities are waiting until the school vacation is over to educate the students about the bookmarks promoting an alcoholic beverage. Condemning the attempts to attract schoolboys to promote alcohol, authorities of Ananda College, Colombo have decided to launch an awareness campaign on this 'illegal promotion' after the school vacation. Vice Principal, Jayasiri Fernando said that it was illegal and unethical to distribute bookmarks designed as beer bottles among schoolchildren. " As a leading Buddhist school, we have a strong anti-alcohol society and we do not allow anyone to distribute such bookmarks", he said. However, the school authorities have decided to keep a sharp eye on the unscrupulous promoters and to confiscate these bookmarks if found in the procession of schoolboys. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
