And so it starts . . . just days after I-1183, the initiative to privatize liquor sales in our state, passed, Publicola reports that small grocers are preparing to ask legislators to reduce the required size of stores selling hard alcohol.
People can call me and other pro-regulation advocates a nanny or a liar all that they want, but the research is clear: increased access to alcohol increases consumption, including consumption among minors. I blogged about it on October 24 and August 18. The coalition website contains links to lessons learned about private liquor sales and public health consequences in the UK. AlcoholPolicyMD.com is one of many great online resources about how public policy can be used to prevent underage drinking.
People can also say that "kids will be kids" and that there is nothing we can do to stop them from drinking but, again, we have research that shows otherwise. Not to mention that our northeast Seattle community has worked together to reduce underage drinking rates over the past five years.
Will strong regulations and policy limiting alcohol marketing and availability alone prevent underage drinking? No. However, it is one tool for communities to use to prevent underage drinking. When one part of an already beleaguered substance abuse prevention system is eliminated, it makes a significant difference in a community's ability to keep kids safe and healthy.
Showing posts with label I-1183. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I-1183. Show all posts
I-1183, liquor in our grocery stores and underage drinking
Don't know what to think about Initiative 1183?
Before I get into all of the studies that show a correlation between alcohol availability and underage drinking, just imagine what our community will look like if stores that are 10,000 square feet or larger can sell hard alcohol. Imagine the large QFC, Safeway, Bartell Drug and Rite Aid stores in our community (most of them) with shelves of hard alcohol. In several stores, I already feel bombarded with wine displays. When we go shopping with our kids, do we want to see vodka and rum displays throughout some stores? Is that what we want in our community?
Now on to the research. When it comes to underage drinking, we know that:
-- a growing number of youth who drink prefer liquor to other forms of alcohol. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “distilled spirits” are the #1 choice among 12th grade girls who drink and the #2 choice among 12th grade boys who drink.
-- when it comes to minors accessing alcohol, Washington State liquor stores have a 94% no-sale-to-minors compliance rate, the nation’s highest. Private sector compliance rates range from 76% - 84%.
-- there is a correlation between alcohol outlet density (the number of places where people can buy alcohol) and youth alcohol consumption. One of the studies cited in the ADAI fact sheet regarding last year's privatization initiatives found that, "more comprehensive and stringent alcohol control policies, particularly those affecting availability and marketing, are associated with lower prevalence/frequency of adolescent consumption and age of first use."
More information about privatizing/deregulating the sale of alcohol and public health and safety can be viewed on the WASAVP website, the Marin Institute website and the Campaign for a Healthy Alcohol Marketplace website.
Before I get into all of the studies that show a correlation between alcohol availability and underage drinking, just imagine what our community will look like if stores that are 10,000 square feet or larger can sell hard alcohol. Imagine the large QFC, Safeway, Bartell Drug and Rite Aid stores in our community (most of them) with shelves of hard alcohol. In several stores, I already feel bombarded with wine displays. When we go shopping with our kids, do we want to see vodka and rum displays throughout some stores? Is that what we want in our community?
Now on to the research. When it comes to underage drinking, we know that:
-- a growing number of youth who drink prefer liquor to other forms of alcohol. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “distilled spirits” are the #1 choice among 12th grade girls who drink and the #2 choice among 12th grade boys who drink.
-- when it comes to minors accessing alcohol, Washington State liquor stores have a 94% no-sale-to-minors compliance rate, the nation’s highest. Private sector compliance rates range from 76% - 84%.
-- there is a correlation between alcohol outlet density (the number of places where people can buy alcohol) and youth alcohol consumption. One of the studies cited in the ADAI fact sheet regarding last year's privatization initiatives found that, "more comprehensive and stringent alcohol control policies, particularly those affecting availability and marketing, are associated with lower prevalence/frequency of adolescent consumption and age of first use."
More information about privatizing/deregulating the sale of alcohol and public health and safety can be viewed on the WASAVP website, the Marin Institute website and the Campaign for a Healthy Alcohol Marketplace website.
Liquor privatization: public health costs
While the Seattle Times "cheers Initiative 1183" because it would generate additional revenue for state and local governments, the Washington State Budget & Policy Center questions whether the additional revenue would offset costs associated with increased public health, safety, and economic implications.
In a recent post to their Schmudget blog, the Budget & Policy Center states that the Washington State Office of Financial Management's (OFM) analysis "does not account for future costs associated with greater consumption of hard liquor. They estimate that hard liquor sales (consumption) would increase by about five percent under I-1183. However, a 2010 report from the State Auditor's Office estimated that consumption of hard liquor could increase by as much as 15 percent under a privatized liquor system similar to that proposed by I-1183. Either way, our state could face increased public health and safety costs under the initiative -- due to higher rates of drunk driving and other alcohol-related crimes."
An increase in underage drinking is one of those public health and safety costs. Increased availability of alcohol through stores means increased problems with underage drinking, according to many research articles (which may be found in the ADAI Library Resource Brief about Privatization of Alcohol Sales, page 4).
In a recent post to their Schmudget blog, the Budget & Policy Center states that the Washington State Office of Financial Management's (OFM) analysis "does not account for future costs associated with greater consumption of hard liquor. They estimate that hard liquor sales (consumption) would increase by about five percent under I-1183. However, a 2010 report from the State Auditor's Office estimated that consumption of hard liquor could increase by as much as 15 percent under a privatized liquor system similar to that proposed by I-1183. Either way, our state could face increased public health and safety costs under the initiative -- due to higher rates of drunk driving and other alcohol-related crimes."
An increase in underage drinking is one of those public health and safety costs. Increased availability of alcohol through stores means increased problems with underage drinking, according to many research articles (which may be found in the ADAI Library Resource Brief about Privatization of Alcohol Sales, page 4).
The debate about the regulation of liquor continues
Today at noon, KUOW’s The Conversation will focus on the latest liquor privatization initiative. As the debate about the regulation of alcohol in Washington continues, public health and underage drinking-related concerns should be considered. Following are some resources to help inform the debate.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Task Force on Community Preventive Services recently recommended against further privatization.
• The UW Alcohol and Drug Institute (ADAI) developed a brief providing background information on privatization issues.
• Last week, I updated the coalition website to include information about privatization. I will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
The full initiative may be viewed online.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Task Force on Community Preventive Services recently recommended against further privatization.
• The UW Alcohol and Drug Institute (ADAI) developed a brief providing background information on privatization issues.
• Last week, I updated the coalition website to include information about privatization. I will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
The full initiative may be viewed online.
Despite CDC recommendation against further liquor privatization, debate continues in WA
Backers of the latest liquor privatization initiative funded a paid-signature drive and turned in petitions today. I-1183 is similar to two measures to privatize state liquor sales that failed last November. I-1105 was rejected by 63% of voters and I-1100 was tossed out by 53%.
In February, the federal Centers for Disease Control’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommended against further privatization of alcohol sales “based on strong evidence that privatization results in increased per capita alcohol consumption, a well-established proxy for excessive consumption.”
"Privatization may be associated with increased alcohol advertising, increases in the number of brands sold, and more lax enforcement of sales regulations, including enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age. In contrast, privatization also has generally been associated with an increase in the price of privatized beverages, which may be expected to lead to a decrease in consumption."
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