Washington ? Anheuser-Busch Cos. says it is committed to fighting alcohol abuse, but the St. Louis-based brewer is working against a measure in Congress that would combat underage drinking.

The company objects to language in the bill that calls for a ban on alcohol ads during radio and TV broadcasts of college sporting events, a staple of the beer giant’s marketing efforts.

Even though the controversial language is in the bill’s introduction and is not legally binding, Anheuser-Busch president August A. Busch IV has called it “misguided” and says it’s “an untrue, unfair and damaging indictment of our industry.”

Public interest groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving say Anheuser-Busch is too focused on its bottom line instead of real alcohol-abuse prevention.

The Stop Underage Drinking Act would fund community and college campus efforts to curb alcohol consumption, calls for a national adult-oriented ad campaign against youth drinking, and would improve coordination among federal agencies dealing with the problem.

But the alcoholic beverage industry has worked to tie the bill up in committee because of language supporting the college ad ban.

At a meeting this summer of the Beer Institute trade group, Busch urged the beer industry not to back the legislation because of the provisions.

Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, called Anheuser-Busch’s opposition to the bill “profoundly disappointing” considering studies that show 20 percent of the beer market is underage.

“Given the extraordinary problems of underage drinking, to think they are the ones who should be deciding what colleges and universities around the country do is pretty astounding,” Hurley said.

Current NCAA policy allows one minute per hour of alcohol ads and prohibits the sale or advertising of alcohol at NCAA championship events.