SAN FERNANDO : Businesses Urged to Fight Alcoholism

While the city of San Fernando tinkers with a proposed law to curtail liquor outlets, the Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the business community to deal with the underlying causes of alcoholism by steering employees to treatment programs.

During a luncheon Wednesday, the chamber highlighted two nonprofit groups that provide treatment and counseling services in an attempt to counter the attention paid to efforts to restrict new liquor sales permits.

“Even if you ban all liquor outlets in San Fernando, there’s still going to be a problem,” said chamber President Patty Quezada.

Bruce Cohen, the chamber’s executive vice president, said the organization will act as a clearinghouse to alert the business community about services available to employees who want to combat alcohol and drug problems.

The center offers, among other things, a weekly 12-step program that includes psychotherapy.