Watchdog Finds 20 States Charge for Alcohol Harm

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a new
online resource made available today by Marin Institute, there are a growing
number of states collecting funds from the sale of alcoholic beverages and
earmarking the dollars for programs that mitigate alcohol related harm.

The alcohol industry watchdog released the information at MarinInstitute.org
to show examples of states wrestling with the immense financial burden caused
by alcohol use. "Twenty states are already wisely collecting alcohol taxes or
price markups on alcoholic beverages and dedicating them for alcohol-related
programs," said Michele Simon, research and policy director at Marin
Institute. "We urge political and public support for tax increases in the
other 30 states to fund programs that mitigate the financial harm caused by
alcohol," Simon added.

Twenty states dedicate funds collected through taxes or price mark-ups on
alcoholic beverages and direct them in the following ways: (1) Education or
prevention of problems associated with alcohol use; (2) Enforcement or
administration of the state's alcohol control laws; and (3) Treatment or
rehabilitation for people with alcohol or other drug problems.

Nationally, alcohol-related harm costs more than $200 billion annually in
trauma care, hospitalization, treatment, prevention, lost productivity, and
criminal justice costs. At least 85,000 people die in the U.S. every year from
alcohol-related factors making alcohol the third leading cause of preventable
death, behind smoking and poor diet.

"We applaud those states that are holding Big Alcohol accountable for their
costs to government, stated Bruce Lee Livingston, executive director of Marin
Institute. "Bud Light and Coors Light are not so light on state government
costs - it's time these global corporations pay the tab for the state health
and safety programs that mitigate their harm," added Livingston.

In California, a state that suffers more than $38 billion in alcohol-related
economic harm annually, there are alcohol fee proposals at both the state and
county levels. AB 1019, authored by Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose),
would establish the Alcohol-Related Services Program within the California
Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. A $1.44 billion annual alcohol
mitigation fee would fund the program and mark the first time the industry has
paid its fair share of California's annual alcohol-related harm.

The City and County of San Francisco is currently conducting a nexus study to
quantify its alcohol-related harm in preparation for imposing a local alcohol
mitigation fee in 2010. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a
resolution Monday supporting AB 1019 and asking for a state "charge for harm"
fee program.

For more information please visit MarinInstitute.org.

Contact: Michael Scippa (415) 548-0492
Jorge Castillo (213) 840-3336

SOURCE Marin Institute

Michael Scippa, +1-415-548-0492, or Jorge Castillo, +1-213-840-3336, both of
Marin Institute