Sen. Phil Boots: Owning his Hometown Media

Senator Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, is continuing to join big-box retailers and gas stations in their lobbying efforts to expand alcohol and cold beer sales to retailers over seven days a week.

Boots, a convenience store owner, received accolades for his efforts in a Montogomery County paper (of which he is part owner):

"Thumbs up to our own Sen. Phil Boots. Sen. Boots, one of the owners of The Paper, had a fair amount of face time this week in state-wide media over his bill to repeal Indiana's antiquated blue laws.

Sen. Boots' face has been on the Indy TV stations, as well as on Gerry Dick's Inside Indiana Business and even on the front page of the Indianapolis Star.

A move for free enterprise, Boots' efforts are gaining momentum. The increased visibility doesn't hurt politically, either."

If you disagree with Sen. Boots' renewed attempt to deregulate the controls in place on alcohol sales, contact him:

Call his Statehouse number: 317-232-9400

Email his Statehouse address: s23@in.gov

Write his home office: Boots Bros. Oil Co., 1204 E. Main Street, Crawfordsville, IN, 47933.

The Indiana Daily Student recently talked to legislators about the issue. Click here for the full story.

Times of Northwest Indiana Weighs in on Sunday Alcohol Sale

Here is a thoughtful review by Doug Ross at the Times of Northwest Indiana on how expanding alcohol sales in the state might impact local communities.

Ross takes his time to detail some facts that are often overlooked by other media. This is definitely worth a read.

Click here to read the column.

More Lawmakers Joining the "Convenient" Alcohol Bandwagon

Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, pledged to introduce a bill this session to soften the mandatory carding law. She says her bill will allow retailers "to use their best judgment" when asking for proof of age. Leising said she believes the law is inconvenient for retailers and consumers. Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, has already stated he would do the same. Apparently neither senator is asking their local community groups if mandatory carding is working to decrease the attempted illegal sales of alcohol by minors. Project RAD has been told the mandatory carding measure, just put into effect this past July, has been successful in accomplishing higher compliance rates.

Sunday Sales Debated on Evansville TV

Click here to view a segment on Evansville's FOX station focused on the Sunday alcohol sales debate. Project RAD recommended that a community advocate take this spot on the segment with WTVW.

The segment features Michael Lockard, a Project RAD community partner. Lockard is a former emergency medical worker and feels strongly about the potential community consequences of expanded alcohol sales.

Interesting to note that one of the host attorneys, a local media pundit, says he represents a convenience store chain as a client.

Governor Announces New ATC Chairman

New Poll Question - Visit Project RAD and Weigh in

Do you believe the state of Indiana regulates alcohol sales effectively?

Drinking and Driving: 30 Million Still Doing So

Despite massive efforts to curb drunk driving, some 30 million Americans are driving drunk and another 10 million are driving drugged each year, federal officials report.

In fact, in some states the number of drunk and drugged drivers tops 20 percent, according to a report released Thursday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

"This is a pretty high percentage of people that are operating a motor vehicle under the influence of something," said Peter Delany, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. There has been a small decline in the number of those driving drunk or drugged, he added. "But, even though we are making advances, we still have a ways to go," he said. "The reality is any numbers are concerning."

According to the survey, an average of 13.2 percent of people aged 16 and older drove under the influence of alcohol and 4.3 percent drove under the influence of an illegal drug in the past year.

Click here to read the full article.