Drinking without thinking
In a late-night Nov. 27, end-of-term session, the state Legislature adopted a measure that will lead to a dramatic liberalization of our alcohol policies. Seventy-three representatives who in 2001 did not vote for Sunday liquor store sales in 2002 added their votes to 28 others to legalize Sunday liquor stores sales by a vote of 101-97. Nationally, states that allow Sunday liquor sales report selling about 2 gallons of liquor per person a year, about one-third of a gallon more than in never-on-Sunday states, says economist David Ozgo, a Distilled Spirits Council United States (DSCUS) vice president. That’s about a 20 percent increase.
Big alcohol, like DSCUS represents, want Pennsylvanians to drink more, so they put up their lobby money and promoted this bill, as they have done in many states. They figure on selling more alcohol to raise profits for themselves and more tax revenues for states thus avoiding an increased tax on their products.
This means increased profits for some, increased problems for others.
Most liquor stores are now open 6 days a week, including evenings until 9 p.m., ample time even for procrastinators. Sunday sales will only pander to impulse buyers, proven to be the worst kind for a product like alcohol.
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS of NHTSA) tells us that 29 percent of the 3,594 children drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who died driving a car in 2000 had consumed alcohol.
These dead children, and make no mistake they were children, with a mean age of 17 1/2 are, for most of us, faceless and nameless, non-celebrities, unlike those seven astronauts who were all mature adults whose life profiles and pictures and families we have all seen over and over. One group of seven adults gets a national commitment to spare no expense to find the cause of their demise, and the other group of thousands of mostly anonymous children gets a backhand from the legislature in favor of more alcohol convenience.
FARS also tells us that last year in Pennsylvania 214 people died on Sundays in auto crashes, and 39 percent of all accidents involved alcohol.
In a study in New Mexico, (Effects of a Law allowing Sunday Package Liquor Sales, Steven Flint, Nov. 12, 1999) traffic fatalities increased significantly after legalizing Sunday sales, but only among those accidents involving alcohol. Increasing liquor taxes is good for Pennsylvania for two reasons. It reduces the harm of alcohol and increases needed revenue.
This isn’t just about drinking and driving. Approximately one-third to one-half of homicide offenders were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their offense, and approximately one-third of suicides and drownings are related to alcohol (Hingson & Howland, 1993; Hayward et al., 1992; Greenfield, 1998; Roizen, 1993).
There will be a cost in lives here, and people should ask if it is necessary or meaningful to the common good and public health. Were these lives expended in a noble venture, or just fodder for someone’s bottom line?
Ed Cloonan, president
Independent State Store Union
Harrisburg
Dogs valued more than people?
Last week on the news I heard that $4,000 has been donated for a police dog’s operation. What a great world we live in, right? Wrong. Although I am an animal lover, I am also a struggling parent, desperate to pay the gas bill. I have been trying to get a good job, which I am qualified for, but am willing to clean your home. Do you think I am the only one with this story? No.
Humans struggle every day with needing food, clothing, homes, the essentials in life and even health care. Where is the generosity then? I know that doors are shut in my face. Are they shut in yours?
Debby Fink
Perryopolis