Nine congressmen are adding their voices to the push to get the NCAA to alter its policy allowing beer and wine cooler ads during TV telecasts.

The NCAA Division 1 executive committee meets Thursday in Indianapolis.

The congressmen today sent a letter to NCAA President Myles Brand urging the NCAA to ban alcohol ads entirely from broadcasts.

“We find it puzzling that NCAA advertising rules prohibit ads for cigarettes, other tobacco products, organizations promoting gambling and alcohol beverages, yet continue to allow ads for beverages with alcohol content of 6% or less,” said the letter. “Given the devastating problems caused by underage college drinking, much of it in the form of beer, that policy makes little sense and flouts the core value of sports and learning.

“Please act to protect the integrity of college sports and the health and safety interests of college students, athletes and young fans by ending all advertising during NCAA broadcasts,” the letter said.

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman, R-Calif.; Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.; Lois Capps, D-Calif.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Hilda L. Solis, D-Calif.; Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.; Jim Ramstad, R-Minn.; Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.; and Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

The letter follows similar letters from some college coaches, athletic directors and presidents that also urged action.

The country’s two biggest brewers, Anheuser-Busch and SAB Miller, are among the five biggest advertisers on telecasts of college basketball tournaments.

Any change in the advertising policy could affect the rights fees the NCAA is able to get for its broadcasts.

Brewers have said before that, while games and events feature college athletes, TV broadcasts are watched mostly by adults.