I am writing in response to Joseph Saari's letter ("Open-alcohol ban can't solve problem" SN 3/15). I'm not writing to add to the debate on the open-alcohol ban at MSU, but I feel the need to correct errors in his comments regarding alcohol use in Italy where he is studying.

I take 40 students to Italy and France every summer for the Advertising and Public Relations study abroad program. It is true that it is legal to have open alcohol in Italy and that alcohol use is viewed differently.

It is not true that you can walk down the street or ride a bus while drinking and "nobody will even give a second look." It is also false that people "get drunk just like in East Lansing."

The first explanation for this is that, as a foreigner, you are at a much greater risk of being mugged, pick pocketed, raped, or physically and verbally abused while intoxicated. The second and primary reason is that Italy is primarily a temperate culture that uses alcohol in moderation. Although there are always exceptions, Italy's overall moderate alcohol culture (as compared to our youth alcohol culture of binge drinking and harmful excess) is really the major point Joseph seems to miss.

Wine is common with meals, but most Italians are self controlled in their use of alcohol and rarely consume alcohol without food. It is rare to see an Italian person intoxicated in public and walking and drinking from open alcohol containers. Most Italians do not drink to get drunk and view people who are intoxicated, walking around with an open alcohol container as a public humiliation; they say that to do so is "fare una brutta figura," to make an ugly spectacle.

Generally, the only people you'll see drunk in public in Italy are foreigners, visiting the beautiful country and abusing the open-alcohol policy, and, in the eyes of the Italians, making ugly spectacles of themselves. Italians look very poorly on people who drink from open alcohol containers and to the point of intoxication.

It is often the homeless or mentally challenged Italians who lack the self-respect, control and maturity to not abuse alcohol in this way.

Walking around with open alcohol, staggering, slurring your speech, yelling or disturbing the peace while under the influence of alcohol is very disrespectful to the Italian culture and reinforces the stereotype of the ugly American who lacks self control and respect for others.

It is also a good way to get kicked out of a study abroad program at MSU.

Bill Ward
advertising professor and study abroad program leader