Alcohol-Related Problems

* As comprehensive as “State Turns a Corner in Curbing Drunk Driving” (Dec.12) appeared, especially with its companion article, “CHP Spreads Sober Message to the Latino Community,” it failed in conveying the understanding that alcohol-related problems can be reduced (as drinking and driving has been) when consumption of alcoholic beverages is first reduced. While dramatic drops in wine and liquor consumption have been occurring in California for over a decade, beer sales have remained relatively flat. And it is beer which is the booze form most often implicated in drinking and driving, particularly by young Americans, and Latinos especially. Beer is 83% of beverage alcohol imbibed in our state, wine and distilled spirits comprising 12% and 5%, respectively.

Another omission from an otherwise excellent set of articles was coverage on the role of numerous community groups and officials in “de-alcoholizing” their communities by lobbying for and enacting conditional-use-permit zoning ordinances to reduce the ubiquitous and easy availability of booze.

A third omission was the obvious impact on sales from higher federal and state excise-tax increases on booze. And while there is a dearth of research on probable impacts on sales from California Proposition 65 warning signs and federally imposed warning labels on the known carcinogenic and toxic effects of alcoholizing, the pieces failed to mention these prevention strategies. As we finish out December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month locally, your readers need a deeper awareness of what it would mean to local and state government treasuries if the latest “preemption” activities of booze retailers over local control succeed in the coming weeks in Sacramento. Readers should also be informed of the sad fact that except for selling to an obviously intoxicated minor, there has been no “third party” liability for both retail licensees or social hosts since 1979 in California.

I urge you to continue upgrading your coverage of the six Ps of alcohol marketing and prevention strategies: place, price, product, promotion, people and politics.

RAY CHAVIRA, Board Member

Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco

Lancaster