Urban Outfitters t-shirts cause outrage - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Urban Outfitters t-shirts cause outrage

by James Swierzbin

JSwierzbin@abc6.com

A new line of t–shirts sold at Urban Outfitters in Providence are under fire.

The slogans like "I Drink, You're Cute" and "I Vote for Vodka" may seem like harmless fun to many, but to alcohol prevention advocates and Rhode Island's Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, they're dangerous, and are encouraging young people to drink to excess.

That's why the AG and other groups are calling on Urban Outfitters to pull the t-shirts from their store.

Victor Ramos is the deputy director of the Woonsocket Prevention Coalition and he knows how t–shirts like these can help shape young adults opinions about alcohol.

"It's gonna trickle downward to the high schoolers, the middle schoolers, so yeah it's absolutely dangerous, there's nothing harmless about the marketing." said Ramos.

Many regular folks walking by the Urban Outfitters in Providence, also seem to see a problem with the t-shirts.

"I don't see it as a positive thing to portray that as something that's good." said Wandson Santana of Cumberland.

"If little kids that go by and see it, they're already getting the thought that drinking is a good thing, where in fact, it can kill lives." said North Providence's Rob Santilli. 

And for alcohol prevention advocates, the messages the t–shirts send about binge drinking and not handling alcohol responsibly, are ones that they hope Urban Outfitters and other retailers, start to seriously consider.

"We're asking not just Urban Outfitters but other retailers to be responsible for their customers. There's a ripple effect in everything that you do, so just be responsible." said Ramos.