Oregon group targets binge-drinking youths    

A Eugene group trying to reduce binge drinking by young people is calling on stores to stop advertising that appears to promote drinking games such as beer pong or tie alcohol sales to University of Oregon sports.

The call comes from the Eugene Prevention Coalition, an effort by Lane County, the university and other groups in a town known for rowdy parties and a hard-drinking culture.

Health officials say alcohol-related death rates in the county are twice the national average.

"High-risk alcohol use is very much tolerated in our community," said Lindsey Adkisson, a Lane County health analyst. "It's something that's considered a rite of passage for our young people."

The coalition cited a Safeway store southwest of the campus as being one of the first of 20 stores to tone down displays.

Manager Marc Carlson showed KVAL-TV a beer display before the Fiesta Bowl game on Thursday.

"Basically on a display like this, you might see some cups or some table tennis balls," store manager Marc Carlson said.

But the implements of beer pong are gone, replaced by "snacks and chips and those types of things on this aisle," Carlson said. "That would be a change that we made here."

State and federal grants are paying for the coalition's campaign, $180,000 a year over three years. The campaign aims to counteract what it calls community acceptance of binge drinking, which is associated with young people and can lead to lifelong alcohol problems.

"This is something I think is a community issue, and we really need to emphasize that this is not going to be acceptable," said Paul Shang, the university's dean of students.

To read more, click this link: http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jan/05/oregon-group-targets-binge-drinking-youths/ 

Source: The Columbian

Independent Tri-Cities liquor store faces closure because of state fees

December 29, 2012

Independent liquor stores that opened after the state handed the reins of liquor sales to private companies seven months ago already are facing the threat of closure.

New state fees on spirits have cut into the bottom line of small-business owners and increased prices. Many potential Tri-Cities customers are driving to Oregon for cheaper booze.

At the same time, big box stores such as Costco are eligible for quantity discounts under Initiative 1183 that smaller stores don't qualify for, making it harder to compete with chain grocery stores and pharmacies.

Like other independent liquor store owners, Michael Shemali and Rajiv Malhan, co-owners of Mid-Columbia Wine and Spirits in Kennewick and Richland, said they may have to consider closing their doors if changes aren't made.

I-1183, which went into effect June 1, added a 10 percent fee on distributors and a 17 percent fee on retailers in the place of the markup the state used to have on liquor sales. That is in addition to the existing 20.5 percent sales tax and liter tax. Those fees cut into the gross profit margin, Shemali said.

For example, a bottle of Black Velvet whiskey costs a customer $19.64 out the door with taxes, Malhan said. About 61 percent of that is taxes and fees.

And if someone pays with a credit card, the credit card company then charges the business an almost 3 percent fee that applies to the total cost, including taxes, Shemali said.

About 60 small stores in the state either have shut down or never opened, Shemali said. He estimates another 20 to 30 might close in the next several months.

There is no official count of the number of liquor stores that have closed and opened since June 1. In October, the state Department of Revenue estimated 11 stores had closed, but that department and the state Liquor Control Board have not tracked closures.

To read more, click this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/12/29/2219448/independent-tri-cities-liquor.html?utm_source=ABL+Weekly+68&utm_campaign=Weekly+&utm_medium=email#storylink=cpy