Canada: Liquor sales to minors decreasing 

July 31, 2012

The instances of illicit alcohol sales to youth in B.C. are going down following a successful year for the Minors as Agents program.

In the first year of the program, 344 private liquor stores and 98 government liquor stores were tested, with an overall compliance rate of 87 per cent.

Restricting minors' access to liquor is a public-safety priority because of the serious negative consequences associated with liquor consumption by minors. When minors drink, the risk of them being involved in a vehicle crash, a sexual assault or a physical altercation all increase significantly.

With heavy drinking among youth aged 15 to 24 years approximately three times higher than adults 25 years and older, reducing minors' access to liquor becomes even more important to their safety.

"No one wants to see liquor sold to underage youth, so it's encouraging to see improvements by licensees in reducing the sale of alcohol to minors," said Minister Rich Coleman in a news release. "I hope initiatives like the Minors as Agents program continue to lower the chances of that happening."

To view the full story, click this link:  http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20120731/SECHELT0101/307319997/-1/sechelt/liquor-sales-to-minors-decreasing

Source: Coast Reporter 

August 2, 2012

Alcohol companies targeting young people through promotions and sport sponsorship, have been slammed in the first report from a new advertising watchdog.

The Alcohol Advertising Review Board was formed in March by Western Australian health advocates amid concerns the alcohol industry's voluntary regulation system was inadequate.

Since then, it has received 63 complaints about advertisements, 25 of which were found to have contravened the industry's code.

Those include liquor companies supporting music festivals and sporting events, and advertisements being placed near schools.

To view the full story, click this link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-02/advertising-watchdog-targets-alcohold-companies/4172020?section=wa

Source: ABC News

August 4, 2012

Backers of an effort to let voters decide whether wine should be sold in grocery stores in the state's 15 largest counties are suspending their efforts to get the proposal on this year's ballot.

A petition will be re-filed and signatures of registered voters will be sought during the fall of 2013 with a goal of getting the issue to voters in 2014, said Brian Howe, director of Oklahomans for Modern Laws, a group proposing the idea.

Protests of the proposed ballot issue delayed the signature petition drive seeking to change the state constitution. The group had until late September to gather about 155,000 signatures of registered voters.

To view the full story, click this link: http://newsok.com/backers-postpone-oklahoma-wine-sale-proposal/article/3698043 

Source: NewsOK

August 5, 2012

Allowing liquor stores to open on Sunday may be more convenient for drinkers, but it hasn't been especially beneficial to liquor store owners.

In the months since voters in several mid-state cities approved packaged liquor sales on Sunday, store owners in Warner Robins and Macon say it hasn't helped their bottom line. If anything, it has hurt.

Andre Cates, owner of Andre's Liquor Shoppe in Macon, said his overall sales are about the same as before he started opening on Sunday. He voted against Sunday liquor sales and said many other owners felt the same way, but not opening now would mean losing too much business to competitors.

To view the full article, click this link:  http://www.macon.com/2012/08/05/2124706/midstate-liquor-stores-dont-benefit.html

Source: The Telegraph