California: Sacramento Stores Limiting Single-Serve Alcohol Sales In Experiment To Clean Up Streets

Volume 161: November 11, 2013

California: Sacramento Stores Limiting Single-Serve Alcohol Sales In Experiment To Clean Up Streets

November 4, 2013

Some Sacramento stores are giving up selling single-serve beer sales as part of an effort to clean up the streets in Del Paso Heights.

The single-serve alcoholic beverages can be big business for small convenience stores, but it tends to attract loiterers and a few other problems.

So the idea is to limit people drinking along Del Paso Boulevard by slowing the sale of single-beer bottles and cans. Store clerks will also put the bottles in larger bags to discourage on-street drinking.

Sacramento City Councilman Allen Warren says some store owners are accepting the idea.

"Decided that this was in the best interest of the community, and if it's in the best interest of our community, and the boulevard, then it would be in the best interest of their business as well," he said.

So far, five shops along the street won't sell single bottles of alcohol until after 10 a.m.

Warren admits the alcohol program won't cure the loitering problem, but it may at least limit the number of people drinking along the street.

"We don't want to stop people from drinking, but let's not sell it 24-7," he said.

Warren says they will review the program in three months to see if its had any impact and consider possibly expanding the idea to other parts of the city.

Link: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/11/04/sacramento-stores-limiting-single-serve-alcohol-sales-in-experiment-to-clean-up-streets/

Source: CBS

Washington: Restaurant owner among those charged in liquor theft ring

November 4, 2013

King County Prosecutors have charged five people with liquor theft using little known laws targeting "organized retail crime." One of those charged is the owner of a long-time West Seattle business that investigators say was buying the stolen liquor.

Charging documents released Monday say Eduardo Morales-Cardenas is the head of the crime ring. He owns the Puerto Vallarta restaurant on California Avenue in West Seattle.

Investigators say he directed three men and one woman to hit the liquor aisle in grocery stores all over King County. The crew would then bring the stolen booze to Morales-Cardenas who would buy it for pennies on the dollar. Investigators believe he then sold the liquor in this restaurant.

Last month, the KING 5 Investigators revealed that grocery store chains have been using their own private investigators to track the Morales-Cardenas ring and others like it.

The retail theft investigators use the same surveillance and investigative techniques that drug investigators use to track the ring members and the flow of stolen liquor.

This type of investigation provides prosecutors with evidence that these are more than simple shoplifting cases. The charge of Organized Retail Theft is a felony that carries harsher penalties upon conviction.

In the charging documents, King County Sheriff's Deputy BJ Myers says the ring has stolen more than $15,000 worth of liquor. Sheriff's deputies and private investigators witnessed many transactions. The documents also say that an undercover officer sold liquor to Morales-Cardenas.

Last month, when asked by KING 5, Morales-Cardenas denied that he ever purchased stolen liquor.

Link: http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Restaurant-Owner-among-those-charged-in-Liquor-Theft-Ring-230586591.html

Source: King 5 News

Online alcohol marketing encourages 'culture of intoxication' in young people, study suggests

November 4, 2013

Online alcohol marketing aimed at young adults encourages a ''culture of intoxication'', a study has suggested.

Young people tend to view targeted alcohol marketing via social media sites as ''useful and informative'' instead of recognising it as advertising, the research found.

Co-author Professor Christine Griffin said that such marketing is ''pervasive'' and encourages ''extreme drinking''.

The professor in social psychology at the University of Bath, who is part of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Control Studies, said there should be more effective regulation of online alcohol marketing aimed at young people who use social networking sites.

The study, conducted by Prof Griffin and colleagues at Massey University in New Zealand, examined how 18 to 25-year-olds respond to online advertising of drink brands.

The research found that online alcohol marketing aimed at young adults is ''widespread, highly dynamic and takes an ever-expanding range of forms'' as new digital and mobile technologies develop.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Indiana: Wabash Honored for Alcohol Prevention

November 1, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS, In. - Wabash College's Dean of Students Michael Raters is the 2013 recipient of the Dean Richard McKaig Award for Exemplary Leadership in Addressing High Risk Drinking. The award was presented Friday at the Indiana Collegiate Action Network's annual meeting in Carmel.

Raters accepted the award on behalf of a myriad of support groups on campus, including student life, alumni, and the student body.

"Just as no one person is the reason for a Super Bowl or World Series champion, so it is with a college's approach to successfully reduce high-risk drinking," said Raters. "The members of our Wabash team, across the institution, have pulled together in embracing our consistent and continual approach to combat this daily challenge. I am pleased that we have Student Life staff, alumni leadership, and, of course, student leaders, with us today to not only model our team-oriented methods, but also to share in the recognition."

The award honors Richard McKaig, who served as Dean of Students at Indiana University for 38 years. Its criteria states that the recipient is in an on-campus senior leadership position and show exemplary leadership in addressing high-risk drinking through personal involvement and commitment.

Raters and the Wabash team instituted a number of programs to curb high-risk drinking: formed the biannual Housing Education and Leadership Program (HELP), a daylong health, safety, and wellness workshop for housing leaders; developed discussions of the Wabash Gentleman's Rule and appropriate behaviors during Freshman Orientation; founded the WAR Council (Wabash Acts Responsibly), the focus of which is responsible behaviors, including drinking by of-age students; instituted the Alcohol Wise survey for all incoming students and brought to campus Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Sen. Jim Merritt, author of the Indiana Lifeline Law, shortly after the law was passed.

To read more, click this link: http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=10103

Source: Wabash College

Indiana: Indiana State pilots Safe Rides program

November 1, 2013

Indiana State University continues to expand on its alcohol-awareness programs by offering free taxi rides during a month-long pilot program.

The Safe Rides program provides free taxi rides through the Yellow Cab Company for Indiana State students in need of a ride Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. within the Terre Haute city limits. To utilize the serve, students call Yellow Cab at 812-478-5000 to request pickup and show their Indiana State Student ID to the driver.

The pilot, running from Oct. 31 through Nov. 30, is funded through Indiana State's Strategic Plan and the Student Wellness Initiative in conjunction with University Police.

The Safe Rides program expands on SoberRide, a similar program that has been conducted during Homecoming for the past three years.

SoberRide provides free transportation to Indiana State students who are concerned about driving themselves or riding in a car with another driver who may have been drinking. On Homecoming Saturday, students can simply go to marked stops along Wabash Avenue to board a 20-passenger shuttle back to campus.

SoberRide provided 343 rides to students during 2013 Homecoming.

"The original idea behind SoberRide was to expand to every weekend of the academic year," said Aimee Janssen-Robinson, assistant dean of students for student advocacy.

Janssen-Robinson said there is interest from the Terre Haute community to partner with the university to make that expansion a reality but a pilot was necessary to put together a budget and gauge student appeal.

"We will seek feedback from all partners and conduct focus groups with students at the conclusion of the pilot program," Janssen-Robinson said. "If things go well we will be seeking sponsorship to continue, such as sponsoring a month or a week at a time during the academic year."

Link: http://www.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=3761

Source: Indiana State University

Indiana: IU takes steps to limit binge drinking at frat, sorority parties

November 7, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 7, 2013)-Indiana University is taking steps to protect its students by taking steps to curb binge drinking at fraternity parties on campus.

University officials plan to limit the amount of alcohol at frats and sorority parties to the equivalent of 512 shots.

Additionally, at midnight, all the booze must be locked up and stored away.

Details of the policy are still being ironed out, including how it would be enforced.

Link: http://fox59.com/2013/11/07/iu-takes-steps-to-limit-binge-drinking-at-frat-sorority-parties/#axzz2k4EqnS4m

Source: WXIN

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