Weighing the potential for earning money from alcohol advertisement against the dangers of promoting alcohol consumption, the Kitsap Transit Board voted July 7 to approve a policy allowing alcohol advertisements on the sides of its buses.

“The potential here is of course potential revenue,” said Steffani Lillie, capital and service development director for Kitsap Transit.

Lillie said that Kitsap Transit received two public comments on the issue. Both comments were against such ads.

“They both happened to be recovering addicts. They thought it promoted alcohol use,” LIllie said of the commentators.

Any alcohol ads would not show the actual consumption of alcohol and would also come with a reminder to “drink responsibly.”

Lillie said Kitsap Transit had the power to set the rules on what advertising would be acceptable for the buses, and to make sure the ads were tasteful.

“We can definitely put a strong preference for local (breweries) advertising. I wouldn’t want to prohibit national advertising. But we can put a strong preference. We can say we don’t want any bikini-clad bodies or whatever language we want in there. We have the ability to make those rules,” Lillie said.

Board member Charlotte Garrido said that because a substance abuse advisory committee said such advertising was “enticing” she would vote no. Garrido was the sole “no” vote.

Board member Robert Gelder favored using the ads, but only with caution.

“As we sort of dip our toe into this particular water, we need to make sure that we have appropriate controls and screening in place,” Gelder said.

Gelder appreciated the potential extra revenue alcohol ads could provide, “but I think it is important to make sure … that we maintain the brand and  don’t compromise the brand of Kitsap Transit in the process of going down this path,” Gelder said.