Children of Alcoholics Week is Observed Feb. 12-18 -- Here's How to Help 

Created to raise awareness of children affected by parental alcohol problems, Children of Alcoholics (COA) Week reaches out with the message of "A Celebration of Hope and Healing."

Led by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), the annual campaign celebrates the recovery of the many thousands of children (of all ages) who have received the help they needed to recover from the pain and losses suffered in their childhood. It also offers hope to those still suffering from the adverse impact of parental alcohol and drug addiction through educational programs, proclamations by mayors and governors, poster contests in schools and coverage by radio, television and print media.

An estimated 25 percent of all children in the U.S. (about 27.8 million) are affected by or exposed to a family alcohol problem. This does not include those affected by or exposed to other drug problems. All these children are at increased risk for a range of problems, including physical illness, emotional disturbances, behavior problems, lower educational performance and susceptibility to alcoholism or other addiction later in life. 

Here are some NACoA suggestions on how you can help children of all ages know they are not alone:

Speak out as an organization and an individual. Advocate for the children and families affected by alcoholism and other drug dependencies. For ideas on how to get started, read SAMSHA's Children of Alcoholics: A Guide to Community Action.

Encourage churches and faith-based organizations to get involved. Something as simple as recognition in the bulletin and newsletter would be a start. Clergy may want to address addiction as it impacts family or how it can be a barrier to spiritual growth.

Engage health care professional associations and managed care organizations. Point them to pamphlets and other resources addressing the issue.

Print and display the COA Week poster to raise awareness of the problem and sources of help available.

Link: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=nhww5cdab&v=001dsGnuBrFqEE5ViyPkov87Rl123FI0ldSBlMIVEMXXvJkUV7ghZIrN1gsxQ1SxoEiBugxoMJ8BxvTkv9JWbTorNwLCOIYMfvfTk__2eALb9c%3D

Source: Drug Free Marion County

The University announced at a conference in January that it aims to achieve a 25-percent reduction in the rate of binge drinking. According to a new report, 61 percent of first-year students involved in the Greek system engage in high-risk drinking.

University administrators and student leaders traveled to Austin, Texas, to present this goal and to discuss harm-reduction initiatives with representatives from 32 colleges across the country.

The conference was the second event organized by the National College Health Improvement Project, or the "Dartmouth Collaborative" - an initiative spearheaded by Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim last summer to rein in alcohol abuse.

The 18-month project, which aims to devise a plan to curb excessive drinking, urges schools to work with scientists from Dartmouth's Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, as well as other universities, to tackle what Kim has said was "the most difficult problem I've taken on yet," according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

To view  the full story, click on this link: http://www.cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2012/01/31/cornell-plans-reduce-freshman-drinking

Source: The Cornell Daily Sun  

Looks like wine but technically is not 

Jan. 31, 2012

ALBANY - When you first look at it, what did you think it was? I thought it was a bottle of wine, and when I saw it on sale at the Wal Mart on Washington Avenue extension, I thought something was quite wrong.

Grocery stores, supermarkets and big box retailers aren't allowed to sell wine and liquor in New York.

That's the exclusive right of independent liquor store owners, who are licensed and limited to a single location.

Stefan Kalogridis, President of the New York State Liquor Store Association of Upstate New York said "it should be disclosed that they're not really buying wine. They're not really buying a white zinfandel. They're buying something that is fake."

If you look closely at the Wal Mart display, you'll see the label says "Wine Product".

Turns out that's different than wine.

The Wal Mart wine product is six per cent alcohol by volume. Regular wine is usually 12 to 20 per cent.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2476842.shtml?cat=300

Source: WNYT.com   

A new legislative proposal could soon bring an end to state restrictions prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays and certain holidays, but liquor store owners across the region are concerned that the bill being presented would have long-lasting negative effects on the economy and liquor industry in Connecticut.

Storeowners in the Granby area remain split on whether it's a good idea to allow liquor stores to open for commercial sales on Sunday but are united in a concern that changes to minimum pricing regulations and a lack of adjustment to excise and sales taxes will still leave Connecticut's border towns at a disadvantage.

"I've been for Sunday openings with limited hours for a while," said Scott Wundt, owner of Center Spirits in Granby. "Being a border store, I know that we're losing sales to stores in Massachusetts. I was much more in favor of it back in July when they increased the excise tax for all stock we had in the store."

Sergio Castro, general manager at The Liquor Cabinet in East Granby, said he does not see any revenue increase coming if the store were allowed to be open on Sunday. In fact, he is concerned that the current proposal would only lead to additional costs.

Castro and his father, The Liquor Cabinet owner George Castro, said there would be increased costs in electricity, heating and other expenses for the sales to instead be spread over the course of seven days instead of six.

To view the full story, click on this link: http://thegranbys.patch.com/articles/liquor-store-owners-split-on-sunday-sales-proposal-express-concerns

Source: The Granbys, Conn., Patch 

Jan. 26, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS -- Police and community groups are raising concerns after several Marion County liquor licenses have popped up for sale on Craigslist.

A search of the free classified site turned up at least a dozen alcohol licenses and permits for sale in central Indiana, with prices ranging from $40,000 up to $125,000, RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported.

Drug Free Marion County is worried that individuals have put the licenses and permits up for sale without first going through the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

"It's shocking to see these permits being put up on Craigslist," said Nancy Beals with Drug Free Marion County. "Having permits for sale on Craigslist circumvents the whole process and endangers the community."

In November, the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission auctioned off a number of liquor permits, including dozens for Marion County.

But State Excise Police told RTV6 that licenses purchased at auction can't be sold on Craigslist and that the holder must first establish its own use of the permit.

Police won't know if sales are illegal until someone tries to transfer ownership, which can't be done without state approval.

"I've never seen (online license sales). It's almost like it takes a little bit of the integrity out of the process," said Sgt. Bill Carter with the department's Nuisance Abatement Unit. "You still have to go through the process through the local liquor board."

Local liquor boards also require proper zoning and background checks for license holders.

Link: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/30309474/detail.html

Source: The Indy Channel 

Feb. 7, 2012, By Paul Hammel

To some people it sounds downright un-American, but a bill in the Nebraska Legislature would outlaw cheap beer.

State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber testified Monday in favor of his proposal to prohibit grocery and liquor stores from selling beer and other liquor for less than its wholesale cost.

Karpisek said he fielded plenty of complaints from small grocers and liquor outlets last year after they noticed that some large supermarkets were selling cases of beer below cost.

The retail strategy is known as a "loss leader," in which a store will sell a product at less than its market value so that customers will be drawn into their business and buy other stuff - stuff that has a profit margin built in.

Karpisek and Hobe Rupe of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission said selling alcohol at less than cost is a health issue because it can lead to overconsumption.

Karpisek said he also wanted to level the playing field for smaller retailers, who can't sell at a loss as easily as big corporations.

Representatives of Nebraska retailers and grocery stores testified against Legislative Bill 978, saying the "free market" ought to govern the price of beer.

"Government shouldn't dictate what our loss leaders are," said Kathy Siefken of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association.

Siefken said the lowest beer price she could find was $1.50 a case below cost. She said she doubted if that was enough to prompt overconsumption.

Karpisek, who chairs the committee, said he knew he was treading on a "touchy" issue. The Legislature's General Affairs Committee took no action on the cheap beer bill after a public hearing, but the senator anticipated his bill wouldn't pass.

"I'm always happy to see the cheapest beer also," Karpisek said.

Source: Omaha.com