Indiana State Police Urge Safety for Thanksgiving Travelers

Safe Family Travel, an annual statewide campaign that focuses on impaired drivers and seat belt enforcement, is now underway and lasts through Nov. 28.

"The Thanksgiving holiday period is historically very heavily traveled," Indiana State Police Sgt. Rod Russell said. "With the traveling, the shopping, Black Friday, and then it rolls into Christmas and New Year's, Thanksgiving is really the kick-off to a busy season."

Last year, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, two people were killed in nearly 2,000 crashes on Indiana roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday period from Nov. 25-29.

"When we talk about impaired driving, we always associate it with alcohol," Russell said. "But really, people don't think about prescription drugs or the illegal drugs while driving, and we look at all of that."

Source: Muncie Star-Press

Federal Warnings Issued to Makers of Suspect Drinks

Project RAD readers were first to learn of the warnin g signs and headlines across the  country citing pre-mixed high-energy, high-alcohol content drinks as potentially unsafe. 

Now, two federal agencies have taken the lead.
 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Agency Takes Action/Sends Warning Letters

Federal Trade Commission Takes Action/Sends Warning Letters

While federal agencies have been slow to act, states have not. Many moved quickly and aggressively to ban the products and demand that retailers take them off the shelves.

Indiana's regulatory agency took an easy road, with the interim head of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission telling media that his agency had no the authority to ban the beverages and implied that legislation would be required.

However, this is what the Indiana statutes say about the ATC:

IC 7.1-1-1-1 
General purposes
     Sec. 1. The following are the general purposes of this title:
        (1) To protect the economic welfare, health, peace, and morals of the people of this state.
        (2) To regulate and limit the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
        (3) To regulate the sale, possession, and distribution of tobacco products.
        (4) To provide for the raising of revenue.
(Formerly: Acts 1973, P.L.55, SEC.1.) As amended by P.L.250-2003, SEC.1.

IC 7.1-2-3-31
Implied powers
     Sec. 31. Implied Powers. The commission and the chairman shall have, in addition to the express powers enumerated in this title, the authority to exercise all powers necessary and proper to carry out the policies of this title and to promote efficient administration by the commission.
(Formerly: Acts 1973, P.L.55, SEC.1.)

IABR Takes Responsible Retail Action

Before anyone told our Project RAD partners to make a responsible move, the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers was ahead of anyone in the state (and most retailers in the nation) by voluntarily removing these products and asking for state guidance from the top regulator.

Any decision from the state is likely now a moot point since the feds have taken action.

Click here to read the letter from Randy Miller, who heads the Drug Free Marion County Group, supporting IABR's decision.

Wade Shanower, President of Big Red Liquors, and John Livengood, CEO and President of IABR, also were asked to be guest speakers Wednesday at the Indiana Collegiate Action Network conference at the airport Radisson to talk about the issue.

Click here to go to ICAN's Facebook page.

Maker of Suspect Drinks Notify Retailers: The Other Side

Click here to download a letter from the maker of Four Loko sent to Indiana Distributors.

Click here to download Four Loko's "Reformulation" News Release.

Indiana Newspaper Editorials

In Logansport: Stores' Voluntary Ban a Good First Step

In Anderson: State Should Let Feds Decide

Meet a New Community Partner for Project RAD!

Indiana Chain Assists with Underage Drinking Campaign in Kentucky

United Package Liquors, a thriving retail chain in Indiana and Kentucky, is partnering with The Save Our Kids Coalition in Bowling Green. UPL's Kentucky stores will be working with the nonprofit to stop underage drinking and will be using the group's stickers and posters to stop minors at the door.

Latest Drinking Fads on College Campuses

These are the latest drinking fads with college (and underage) drinkers.

Vodka Eyeballing: A shot of high-proof vodka is poured into an eye. Blood vessels in the eye absorb the alcohol quickly. Started in England, the trend is growing here in the United States.

100-Proof Tampons: Soaking tampons in grain alcohol. Not isolated to women only, men are now using these as suppositories for a quick high.

AWOL or Alcohol Without Liquid: Using vaporizers, which are readily available on the Internet, to vaporize alcohol to be inhaled, or snorted, directly. This is described as an instant drunk.

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