DANA POINT : ‘Turkey Trot’ Beer Policy Criticized

Organizers of the 12th annual “Turkey Trot,” a Thanksgiving Day 10K run sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, are being criticized for a longstanding policy to serve beer at an athletic event that is benefiting an anti-drug program at Dana Hills High School.

Corona del Mar resident Lars de Jounge and Janet Cater, director of the Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have expressed concerns about the chamber’s policy to allow one beer per race entrant, age 21 or over, in a cordoned-off serving area.

Both said the move contradicts the Sheriff Department’s slogan reproduced on promotional material for the race, which says, “Drug Abuse Is Life Abuse.”

“The No. 1 drug of choice among teen-agers is alcohol,” Cater said. “We hope the chamber next year will consider going with a non-alcoholic beer, particularly when the event benefits an anti-drug program.”

“I saw this horrendous contradiction,” agreed de Jounge. “With one hand, you are being invited to run for a charity against drug abuse, and with the other, they are serving beer at 9 a.m. Is that what we want to show our younger people?”

Chamber officials said beer has been served at the race every year. Because the chamber is limited by state and city laws to serving one drink per person, there has never been a problem with public drunkenness, officials said.

“Just about every other 10K run in California serves beer,” said chamber vice president Jody Tyson, who organized the race that is partly sponsored by a $1,000 donation from Anheuser Busch, makers of Budweiser beer.

Tyson said that after the race, runners will be allowed into a restricted beer-serving area based on their numbered bibs, which have stripes designating different age groups. Once the runner has been served, his bib will be marked and he cannot get another beer.

Sheriff’s Lt. Dan Martini, who heads the deputy force for Dana Point, said he supported the use of a controlled-serving situation.

“It’s not like we’re sponsoring an open beer truck where people are buying six or seven beers,” Martini said. “I feel comfortable with the plans.”

Dana Point Mayor Eileen Krause, who said she does not drink alcoholic beverages, agreed with Martini.

“If the use of alcohol is not an abuse, I guess it’s OK,” she said. “I’m not going to allow a beer-fest.”

The race begins at 8 a.m. Thursday at the Pavilion shopping center at Dana Point Harbor Drive and Street of the Golden Lantern.