www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Liquor stores are suing and neighbors are complaining as the Walgreens pharmacy chain seeks permits to sell alcohol at its stores in Indiana, the Indianapolis Star reported Feb. 27. Walgreens stopped selling alcohol about a decade ago but wants to resume such sales in central Indiana. Opponents in Indianapolis and other areas say that the area already is oversaturated with alcohol outlets, and the state’s beverage retailers have filed suit over the issue. (Source: Join Together, 3/3/10)

Youths who call for help when underage drinkers get sick from drinking will get leniency — but not a free pass — from the courts under legislation approved by a Utah Senate panel. (Source: Join Together, 2/24/10)

A Massachusetts woman whose 17-year-old daughter died after a night of drinking has sued seven people in connection with the death, including five of her friends under the age of 18. Taylor Meyer went out drinking after a high-school football game in October 2008, attending hourse parties and ending up at an abandoned airport. Sometime during the night, Meyer wandered off into a nearby swamp; her body was found in the water three days later. (Source: Join Together, 1/29/10)

Massachusetts consumers may soon be able to order wine online and have it shipped directly from out-of-state wineries after the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the state’s latest attempt to control such shipments.
The Associated Press reported Jan. 15 that the court ruled that a 2006 law that forced larger winemakers to choose between selling through retailers or getting a license to ship directly to consumers was a violation of the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The law was carefully crafted to exempt wineries located within Massachusetts from the requirement by making it applicable only to companies that produce 30,000 gallons of wine or more per year.(Source: Join Together, 1/19/10)

In Wengen, the famous Swiss resort with the Lauberhorn-Descent a young British tourist was missed several days after he had left a bar at 02 a.m. A rescue team found him dead 100 meter under a rocky sightseeing point. Today it was officially that he had 2 permille of alcohol in his blood. On December 12 we reported (“Blau auf den Skipisten”)that the British Government warned its citizens about alcohol consumption in the mountains. Unfortunately in this case without success. But the parents should go to court as in the Bernese law on restaurants and bars (Gastgewerbegesetz Art. 29, 1c) it is forbidden to give or sell alcoholic beverages to drunk persons. And for sure Myles Robinson was drunk already, before he had 2 permille. (Source: Tages-Anzeiger, 12/31/09) http://www.alkoholpolitik.ch/2009/12/31/drunk-young-british-tourist-died-in-the-swiss-alps/8353/ – jungfrauzeitung.ch, 12/30/09(in english)

A Tennessee law that allows patrons to bring guns into bars — but not to drink — has been struck down by a judge who ruled that the measure is unconstitutionally vague and “fraught with ambiguity,” the Associated Press reported Nov. 21. The law, which survived a veto by Gov. Phil Bredesen to become law, contains exceptions that Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman said were confusing to the public. The measure replaces a blanket ban on guns in bars by allowing weapons to be carried into establishments that serve at least one meal five days per week or more as its principal business. (Source: Join Together, 12/1/09) Comment: Unbelievable!

“A UK-wide survey by the group of 14- to 21-year-olds found that one in three girls and one in two boys thought there were circumstances in which it could be acceptable to hit a woman or force her to have sex. While young women aged 16 to 24 still have the highest risk of becoming victims of aggressive crime in this country, recent statistics show that there has been a significant rise in the numbers turning to violence themselves. Youth Justice Board figures for last year show that, while overall crime rates are falling, there is a 50% rise in violent crime committed by young women. From 2004-5 to 2007-8, there was a 71% rise in the numbers of young women being electronically tagged and a 25% rise in offences committed by girls aged 10 to 17. It means girls are now responsible for around 21% of offences that reach the courts.” (Source: Harvard World Health News, 11/25/09) The Observer, London, 11/22/09 Related story: Labour Cracks Down on Teenage Violence (The Observer, London, November 22, 2009)

“The national effort to reduce death and injuries from drunken driving has received a major boost from New York State. Gov. David Paterson signed a law that made New York among the first states to make it a felony to drive while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle. The new law also made New York one of a dozen states to require all convicted drunken drivers to use an ignition interlock device that prevents them from driving their cars if they are drunk.” (Source: Harvard World Health News, 11/25/09) The New York Times, 11/22/09 (We reported on 11/20/09)

The New York state Assembly has passed a bill that would make it a felony offense to drive while intoxicated if children under age 16 are in the vehicle, the New York Times reported Nov. 18.
The bill also would require first-time convicted drunk drivers to install ignition-interlock devices on their cars to prevent repeat offenses.
Currently, only Arizona makes it a felony offense to drive drunk with children; about a dozen states require the ignition-interlock devices, which prevent the engine from starting if a breath sample reveals the presence of alcohol. New Yorkers convicted of felony drunk driving would face up to four years in prison under the bill. (Source: Join Together, 11/19/09)

A woman who murdered a retired Louisiana minister had her death-row appeal rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against Brandy Holmes’ contention that her debilitation caused by fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) should have been considered during her sentencing. (Source: Join Together, 10/6/09) Comment: Incredible, medival justice.