bluewater network chastises mcdonalds

Environmentalists are vehemently opposing some of the prizes awarded in McDonald's popular Monopoly game.

According to a Bluewater Network Press Release, members "blasted McDonald's Food Corporation for offering as sweepstakes prizes three of the deadliest and most environmentally harmful recreation vehicles on the market today."

The group disagrees with the offering of Ski-Doo snowmobiles, personal watercraft and ATVs as prizes in the sweeps.

One Bluewater Network member said, "We're shocked that McDonald's would offer to children prizes that are responsible for so many injuries and deaths."

Evidently, nobody read the rules. McDonald's does not award high- and mid-level prizes directly to children. If won by a minor, the prizes have to be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian in trust for the minor, according to McDonald's Monopoly Game Rules.

Parents would ultimately make the decision whether or not to remit the game pieces for a choice of a Ski-Doo ATV, snowmobile or personal watercraft. If someone doesn't want the prize, they don't have to redeem either one of 14 instant win pieces, or collect a complete set of the four railroad pieces. In all, 28 "adventure vehicle" prizes will be awarded.

The phenomenal odds of winning are also stacked against you. According to McDonald's, odds of winning one of the 28 adventure vehicles are:

Odds with 1 Game Piece
1 in 17,820,765
Odds with 4 Game Pieces
1 in 4,455,192
Odds with 8 Game Pieces
1 in 2,227,596

The game is scheduled to end today, August 9.