april is alcohol awareness month license state news · 2018. 4. 3. · nih rejected a study of...

Control State News

IA: Iowa House votes for changes in liquor liability law for bars, restaurants

OR: Oregon cannabis shops perfect in latest OLCC sales-to-minors stings

License State News

LA: 2 bills before the LA Legislature would make alcohol more accessible

TX: International passengers into ABIA will pay state taxes on alcohol for 4 weeks

KY: Bourbon by Mail; Bill Would Make It Possible

MA: Massachusetts becomes only state without lifesaving tech for first-offenders

International News

South Africa: In-Depth: Liquor Amendment Bill

North Korea: N. Korean poster warns of “severe punishment” for bootleg liquor, illegal karaoke

Australia: Australian wine industry declares war on counterfeiters in export crackdown

Public Health News

NIH rejected a study of alcohol advertising while pursuing industry funding for other research

Industry News

A Record Number of UK Wines Went on Sale Last Year

Devonian Coast Wineries wins bid to have lawsuit moved to Nova Scotia

Daily News

America’s Beer Distributors Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month

Parent's Talk section - Smoking and Alcohol

“Virtual Bar” App Provides Tool to Stay Safe During Alcohol Responsibility Month

April 3, 2018

Please visit NABCA’s new website at www.nabca.org

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 11-13, 2018

Alcohol Policy 18: Evidence To Action -Building an Evidence-Based Social Movement Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, Virginia. For additional information on hotel, important dates and more, please visit the AP18 Conference website. AP18 Registration Now Open! APRIL 30–MAY 1, 2018 2018 RRForum National Conference - hosted by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and will be held in Detroit. MAY 21-24, 2018

!REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN !

81st Annual Conference will be held at the Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ. Theme: Bridging Divides; For more information, visit www.nabca.com website.

JUNE 3-5, 2018 2ND Annual Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference - Denver, Colorado Registration is open and sponsorship information is available at www.BevRetailersConference.com. Secure your early bird rate before prices increase on February 9.

Seating is limited.

JULY 18-20, 2018 8th Biennial Northwest Alcohol & Substance Abuse Conference Riverside Hotel, Boise Idaho

The Pre-Conference Sessions are on Wednesday. The official conference kicks off Thursday morning. Visit NorthwestAlcoholConference.org for more information.

http://www.nabca.org/

http://www.nabca.org/meetings

http://www.nabca.org/meeting/2018-annual-conference

ABCA Daily News Update (4/3/2018)

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NABCA HIGHLIGHTS

Native American Nations & State Alcohol Policies: An Analysis

Sunday Alcohol Sales (July 2017)

Alcohol Technology in the World of Tomorrow - (White Paper)

The Control State Agency Info Sheets. Please view website for more information.

NABCA Survey Database – now available for members on the website.

www.NABCA.org


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CONTROL STATE NEWS

IA: Iowa House votes for changes in liquor liability law for bars, restaurants

Radio Iowa By O. Kay Henderson April 3, 2018

The Iowa House has voted to limit liability for bars and restaurants accused of over-serving a drunk customer.

However — unlike the Republican-led Senate — House members have voted to let juries award an unlimited amount of money for “substantial or permanent” damages from a drunk driving accident, like the victim’s death or significant medical bills. Otherwise, “non-economic” damages when bars or restaurants are accused of over-serving a customer would be limited to 250-thousand dollars.

Representative Brian Best, a Republican from Glidden, was given the task of managing the bill and he was the only supporter who spoke during debate.

“If someone drives down the road and they’re texting and they t-bone another car or cause an accident that causes a lot of property damage, we never go back on the cell phone company,” Best said. “We don’t go back on where they bought the cell phone.”

Representative Clel Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield who’s a retired state trooper, voted against the bill. Baudler saod current law works and doesn’t need to be changed.

“I’ve seen so much drunken death on the highways in 32 years as a trooper that I don’t think this is going to do anything to reduce drunk driving,” Baudler said. “Might even make it easier for drunk driving.”

Representative Marti Anderson, a Democrat from Des Moines, is the former chief of the state’s Crime Victim Assistance Bureau. A couple she counseled after their five-year-old girl playing in her own front yard was killed by a drunk driver spent well over $150,000 on counseling and her funeral.

“The grief and loss by her parents was profound,” Anderson said. “…The liability level for these cases should be determined by the courts based on the specific facts for each case.”

Best said “bad actors” will still have to pay, but Best said liquor liability insurance for bars and restaurants — called “dram shop” insurance — is a century-old concept that needs to be updated.

“I don’t believe that bars intentionally overserve,” Best said. “I think there’s many times when, I know from personal experience, bar owners will call a spouse or take the person home themselves if they’ve had too much to drink.”

The bill passed the House last night on a 61-36 vote. It goes back to the Senate, which must consider changes made to the bill in the House.

OR: Oregon cannabis shops perfect in latest OLCC sales-to-minors stings

Portland Business Journal By Pete Danko, Staff Porter April 2, 2018

Oregon cannabis retailers had a perfect record in the latest round of sting operations by state regulators, who are cracking down on sales to minors.

No violations were recorded at a total of 25 shops visited in three regions of the state on separate dates in February and March, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission reported.

The 100 percent compliance rate in the recent tests contrasted with an 81.4 percent rate in a set of stings in December — and it followed right on the heels of the OLCC’s decision to increase sanctions for noncompliance.


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On Jan. 26, the penalty for a first-time sale to a person under 21 was set at a 30-day suspension or $4,950 fine, triple the previous penalties, and triple the penalties for similar violations on the sale of alcohol to minors.

The most recent stings included 10 shop visits on Feb. 16 in the Portland Metro region, four visits in the Bend area on March 10, and 11 visits in the Salem region on March 28.

There were 537 licensed cannabis retailers in the state as of March 26. In 2017, sales topped $520 million.

LICENSE STATE NEWS

LA: 2 bills before the LA Legislature would make alcohol more accessible

FOX 8 Written by: Kimberly Curth, Reporter April 2, 2018

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - Louisiana lawmakers are considering two different bills that would make alcohol more accessible. One would make it legal for those under 21 to drink, while another would allow booze to be delivered to your door.

Ville Platte Democrat Eric LaFleur is sponsoring legislation that would allow people ages 19 and 20 to buy and drink alcohol without their parents being present. But first they would have to get their parent's consent to take a class about the risks of alcohol.

"We just ignore the fact that population - age group - is actually in restaurants, in bars and drinking," LaFleur told our sister station WAFB.

He says the bill would give training to those under 21 who are likely already drinking.

"You can drink at age 17, 18, 19, 20 with the consent of your parents. The big caveat here is this bill would say you can do it with the permission of your parents," LaFleur told WAFB.

But others, including a Denham Springs High School senior, believe that's a bad idea.

"The research and statistics shows that your brain is really undeveloped until it's well into its twenties. So when you're lowering that drinking age, you're ruining your brain," Grace Stevens, with the group Students Against Destructive Behavior, told WAFB.

Another bill before the Legislature would allow you to have alcohol delivered to your door from your favorite restaurant, bar or liquor store. But, it would have to be in a manufactured sealed container - like a bottle of wine - and not in an open container like an already mixed drink.

The delivery driver would have to be 18 or older and carry a server's permit. A third party or a mobile app would also be able to deliver the booze for the business.

"I think it's great. If you can go to a convenience store or you can go to a restaurant, you can leave with the alcohol as long as you're not drinking it in your car. What's the problem?" said Katie's Restaurant owner Scot Craig.

Craig says if passed, alcohol delivery would be good for business.

"If we could just deliver it and you're drinking it at home, it's not like we're promoting you drink it in your automobile or walk out with an open container, you know, we're delivering it to your home," said Craig. "It increases the sale, why not? I mean, I'm all for it."

The bill to allow those 19 and 20 years old to legally drink will go before a Senate committee Tuesday.

The entire Senate is scheduled to vote on the alcohol delivery bill Tuesday.


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TX: International passengers into ABIA will pay state taxes on alcohol for 4 weeks

KXAN By Andy Jechow April 2, 2018

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Passengers on international flights arriving to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are now having to pay state tax on alcohol as part of a 4-week Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission pilot program.

The agency, which said the test run began on March 26, said Section 107.7 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code requires adults bringing alcohol into Texas from abroad to pay taxes and administrative fees — "usually amounting to a few dollars" — with the required tax stamps on the bottle.

TABC currently collects these taxes at more than 20 Texas-Mexico border crossings as well as the Galveston seaport. Texas airports are new territory.

The agency says the pilot program will allow it to test manpower, equipment and training requirements for airport tax collections before deciding if it rolls out the program to other international airports statewide.

The pilot program at ABIA will have a total of 12 tax compliance officers and supervisors to staff the collection station at the airport, where about 25 international flights arrive each week.

The station will be located in the international arrivals terminal where the passengers will be asked to pay the state taxes during the customs check process.

"State law allows a legal-aged individual to import no more than 24 12-ounce cans (or equivalent) of beer, three gallons of wine and 1 gallon of distilled spirits without a TABC permit," the agency said in a statement.

Tax rates, which were set in September 2011, are $3.50 for 24 12-ounce containers for malt liquor, $3.25 for a standard bottle of wine and $15 for a carton of cigarettes. Three dollars of that is just an administrative fee.

John Foster, a passenger arriving at the Austin airport Monday, says he has brought back alcohol many times and is surprised by the new program.

"So I brought in two 750 mL bottles and the total tax was $7," he said.

The agency says they're simply implementing a law that has been on the books since 1977.

In just the first day of the pilot program, they collected $250, which will go into the state's general fund — money used for everything from roads to education.

For a full list of tax rates, visit TABC.Texas.gov.

KY: Bourbon by Mail; Bill Would Make It Possible

WTVQ By Morgan Henry April 2, 2018

FRANKFORT – A measure that would allow direct shipment of alcoholic beverages received final passage today in the state Senate and is on its way to the governor to be signed into law.

The measure, known as House Bill 400, is an economic development and tourism bill, said Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, who presented the measure in the Senate today.

“As our Kentucky bourbon industry experience continues to grow and become more of a Napa Valley-type experience with more than 1.2 million visitors last year alone, the No. 1 question asked by visitors that come to our commonwealth is why can’t they have these items shipped directly home?” he said.

HB 400 would address this by allowing visitors at bourbon distilleries to ship limited amounts of spirits home as well as join bourbon of the month clubs, Schickel said. HB 400 would also permit vineyards to ship specific amounts of wine out of state.


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Another provision would allow liquor stores to ship a limited amount of spirits purchased from their shops. In addition, it would also require the shippers of the spirits to verify the delivery is made to someone at least 21 years old living in a “wet” area.

“House Bill 400 is another important step on removing artificial barriers to free enterprise,” said Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. “It is another step in unraveling the overly obtrusive post-Prohibition alcohol laws that have been in place in Kentucky for over a half-century.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, passed the Senate on a 33-5 vote.

HB 400 contains an emergency clause, meaning it would become law upon the governor’s signature.

MA: Massachusetts becomes only state without lifesaving tech for first-offenders

Sampan By Web April 2, 2018

Idaho Passes All-Offender Ignition Interlock Law, Joining 30 Other States

BOSTON (April 2, 2018) — Massachusetts is now the only state in the nation that does not allow for drunk driving offenders to use ignition interlocks after their first offense. Previously, Idaho and Massachusetts were the remaining two states without any type of program for first-time offenders to use the in-car breathalyzers rather than face license suspension. Idaho Governor Butch Otter last week signed into law legislation that requires first-time offenders to install an ignition interlock for one year.

“Previously, Idaho had one of the weakest ignition interlock laws, along with Massachusetts. Now Idaho will join 30 other states and Washington, D.C. in recognizing this is the best way to protect the public while also allowing a drunk driver to carry out normal daily activities. The only catch is the device on their car won’t let them drive drunk,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church.

Ignition interlocks prevent a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all-offender interlock laws reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent, which is why MADD is pushing for all-offender ignition interlock laws in all 50 states.

MADD has been working in Massachusetts for three years to pass an all-offender ignition interlock law. Currently, interlocks are only required in Massachusetts after the second and subsequent drunk driving offense.

“All the New England states have all-offender ignition interlock laws, and we are pushing to make the July 31 deadline for passing a similar law in Massachusetts,” Sheehey-Church said. “Massachusetts residents and visitors deserve this protection from this violent, preventable crime.”

All-offender ignition interlock language was included in this year’s Senate’s Criminal Justice Reform legislation, but the language was unfortunately not included in the final conference committee report. Also, an all-offender bill (SB2006) was sent to a study order by the Joint Committee on Transportation.

Last year, the Senate for not only passed standalone legislation last session, but also passed the language again in the Criminal Justice Reform package in fall of 2017.

Ignition interlocks save lives. According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), drunk driving fatalities are reduced by 16 percent in states with all-offender ignition interlock laws, while states that require ignition interlocks for repeat offenders only — like Massachusetts — on average experience a 3 percent reduction in drunk driving deaths.

For more information on ignition interlocks, visit madd.org/interlock.


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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

South Africa: In-Depth: Liquor Amendment Bill Alcohol adverts ban ‘will not banish thirst for booze’

Business Day By Nick Hedley April 3, 2018

A ban on liquor advertising would strip broadcasters of a considerable source of revenue and probably dent the struggling South African economy, but would do little to combat alcohol abuse, experts say.

As part of its efforts to curb the misuse of alcohol, the government is considering the Liquor Amendment Bill, which could result in a ban on alcohol advertisements on television and radio between 6am and 10pm. The bill also includes a proposal to lift the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) argues that the intervention is necessary since SA is among the biggest consumers of alcohol in the world, while foetal alcohol syndrome rates are the highest globally.

The state spends nearly R4bn a year on tackling problems related to alcohol abuse, and according to the DTI’s submissions, studies show that raising the consumption age could be an effective tool to combat this.

However, if they go ahead, the advertising regulations would take a bite out of the local economy, according to Johannes Jordaan, economist at Economic Modelling Solutions, who says there is no clear link between alcohol consumption and advertising spend.

However, the effect would not be as significant as a total advertising ban, which the Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has punted.

According to an earlier report by Jordaan and a group of researchers at Econometrix, a total ban would shrink the economy by 0.28%. That includes lost advertising expenditure and reduced sponsorships for the sports and events industry. Castle Lager, for instance, spends significant amounts on sponsoring rugby, cricket and football tournaments and teams.

Sibani Mngadi, chairman of the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba), said that with no media exposure "there will be little to no incentive to sponsor sports events or teams", although it was unclear whether the rules would apply to international events. It was even uncertain whether local television stations would be allowed to broadcast all 2018 Fifa World Cup matches, as the football tournament was sponsored by Budweiser, he said.

The television industry would feel the brunt of the ban more than other media segments, according to marketing and media analyst Chris Moerdyk, who heads up a media industry task group on the matter.

"Television stations would certainly lose quite a lot of money — when you look at how much South African Breweries (SAB) spends on advertising, the bulk of their spend is on TV commercials," Moerdyk said.

A study for the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), done by research firm Genesis Analytics, said banning alcohol advertising between 6am and 10pm would slash advertising agencies’ revenues by R400m while the media would take an R800m hit — particularly television broadcasters.

According to Mngadi, an irony in the proposed changes is that the Liquor Amendment Bill requires transformation and diversification in the industry, and yet the advertising ban would turn out to be an impediment to newcomers.

Instead of restricting marketing, he said stricter law enforcement, including the mandatory use of identification to buy alcohol, targeting adverts at adults only and alcohol awareness campaigns were better options. "Our intention is to increase spend from R10m to R150m per annum on these programmes."

Our intention is to increase spend from R10m to R150m per annum on these programmes.


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Wine expert Michael Fridjhon said, as was the case when cigarette advertising was banned, the bill would entrench the dominance of the largest alcohol brands and prevent new entrants from gaining a foothold in the market.

The large illicit alcohol and drugs market showed that advertising did not drive consumption and alcohol abuse.

"There’s a very simple test: how much advertising do the drug merchants do? So the problem is not one of licensing, the problem is one of policing. There’s ample legislation but inadequate policing."

Instead, the government should focus on education and the enforcement of existing rules, he said.

But if the legal drinking age was raised to 21, "you can’t begin to educate kids at school because they’re three to five years off the drinking age".

Alcohol abuse rates are higher in countries with more prohibition on drinking, according to Fridjhon. For instance, the US raised the drinking age in the mid-1980s to reduce road accidents caused by intoxication.

But research in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that binge drinking in the US among young adult males has not declined, while binge drinking among non-college women has actually increased by 20%, and among college women by 40%.

However, the Genesis report takes a different view, saying young people exposed to alcohol advertising are more likely to start drinking earlier and drink more.

Martin van Staden, legal researcher at the Free Market Foundation, said raising the drinking age was "condescending and tyrannical" and would not work.

"People the government deems mature enough to vote, marry freely, choose careers, drive cars and enter into contracts will no longer be allowed to drink with friends or at a meal or even at their own weddings if this bill is adopted," Van Staden said.

Meanwhile, one analyst, who asked not to be named, said large beverage producers may be able to keep their brand awareness alive by launching alcohol-free versions of their products and advertising, or sponsoring sports teams with those products.

SAB and AB InBev Africa launched Castle Free in October 2017, and "others would probably climb on the bandwagon", the analyst said.

Nirishi Trikamjee, corporate affairs director at SAB and AB InBev Africa, said SAB was working with relevant government departments on the impending changes.

SAB and its peers had "revitalised" and rebranded the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education to combat alcohol abuse.

This association had revised its code of commercial communications and the industry was committed to self-regulation through "responsible messaging", for instance.

Gail Schimmel, CEO of the Advertising Standards Authority of SA (ASA), said the alcohol industry "is a successful study in self-regulation", given its high degree of compliance.

"We receive very few complaints," Schimmel said.

ASA figures show that since 2014, only 13 complaints against alcohol advertisements have been formally investigated. Nine were lodged by consumers — three of those were upheld — and four by competitors.

Trikamjee said "SAB acknowledges the challenges of alcohol-related harm and accepts that the incidence of alcohol abuse in our country is too high". Tackling alcohol-related harm was "an imperative", as was industry transformation and broad-based economic development.


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North Korea: N. Korean poster warns of “severe punishment” for bootleg liquor, illegal karaoke Notice spotted in DPRK calls on citizens to report those who "violate socialist way of living"

NK News By Tia Han April 3, 2018

April North Korean authorities appear to be taking steps to crack down on illegal businesses, particularly those serving alcohol and unlicensed karaoke, a photo recently obtained by NK News suggests.

The announcement, produced last August and issued by the North’s Ministry of People’s Security, warns of “severe punishment to those who violate the socialist way of living.”

Calling on citizens to report anyone selling alcohol without a license, it states that some institutions, companies, organizations, and citizens were so “blinded by the greed of money that they violate socialist way of living.”

The notice, in particular, warns restaurants that are open late at night against promoting drinking, illegal karaoke services, and selling bootleg liquor.

“To eliminate any actions against the socialist way of living completely,” the poster proclaimed that “institutions, companies, organizations, and people must not advocate drinking.”

Violations of “the socialist way of living” also include serving alcohol without a license at restaurants, department stores, and outdoor venues.

“Institutions, companies, organizations, and residents are banned from bootleg liquor,” the announcement states.

The written decision also says institutions, companies, organizations, and local residents must acquire permission from the state to run karaoke bars.

“Institutions, companies and organizations who have installed karaoke machines in restaurants without a permission from the government must remove it,” the proclamation reads.

Those who get drunk and violent in restaurants and other public places and “destroy facilities” are warned that they will be “punished severely.”

“Those who protest against officials in charge of supervising and managing the enforcement will be arrested and face harsh punishment,” the notice adds.

Anyone who violates this announcement will be forced to forfeit the equipment and goods that were used in the illegal activities.

“Depending on the seriousness of their illegal activities, they would be suspended from running the business or forced to close it,” the notice reads. “Also those who are in charge of illegal activities will face severe punishment.”

One North Korean defector who came to South Korea in 2015 said that illegal entertainment is common in the North – and that these kinds of notices are commonplace.

“I have seen several notices similar to this from the government,” the defector, who asked to remain anonymous, told NK News on Tuesday. “Each time it was different… I remember seeing one about smuggling.”

“When I was there, I heard that individuals ran karaoke business in big cities like Hamheung without permission from the government.”

Another expert, however, noted that the growth of illegal karaoke might suggest that the DPRK’s infamous power supply problem might be improving.

“Clearly, this is to tighten discipline of the people,” Fyodor Tertistskiy, a news analyst at NK News‘s sister site NK Pro, said.

“One thing to note is that people have the electricity to run the karaoke machine. This might indicate that the economy is getting better in North Korea.”


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Australia: Australian wine industry declares war on counterfeiters in export crackdown

ABC.net By Tom Nancarrow April 3, 2018

Wine Australia has issued a warning to shonky exporters after being granted new powers to safeguard the industry from counterfeit operators.

The body can now disallow shipping approvals and has the option to suspend or cancel licences.

Wine Australia General Counsel Rachel Triggs said the new powers, which replace controls introduced in the early 1980s, reflect the changes in the modern industry.

"The new regulations [allow us] to grant or refuse a product for export," she said.

"It is not an express power in relation to intellectual property matters, but it does broaden the scope to take into consideration these sort of matters."

The body's Chief Executive Officer, Andreas Clark, said with exports on the rise the industry needed updated power to verify the credentials of exporters.

"Unfortunately it's a fact of life that copycats or counterfeits can move in and leverage somebody else's good reputation to make a buck," he said.

"Left unchecked the damage accrues not just to an individual brand but to the reputation of the nation targeted and its other brands.

"These new regulations will extend Wine Australia's power to do more to protect Australian wine's reputation overseas by ensuring the bone fides of potential and existing exporters."

Crackdown follows Chinese seizure

The announcement comes after reports surfaced of a substantial seizure of 'fake' bottles of Penfolds in China last month.

Although unable to confirm the number, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) said media outlets in both China and abroad estimate some 50,000 bottles were seized.

In a statement made to the ABC, the Penfolds producer praised ongoing efforts to protect the Australian brand from overseas knock-offs.

"Treasury Wine Estates applauds the efforts of the Zhengzhou Jinshui Public Security Bureau in delivering this win against counterfeit operators, as announced this week in China," a spokesperson said.

"TWE China continues to work tirelessly with its local partners, brand protection agencies, and local authorities to protect its intellectual property rights and to ensure its portfolio of premium brands has its integrity preserved at all times."

Winemakers welcome changes

The Winemakers' Federation of Australia has welcomed the regulations as a necessary step to safeguard the industry from wrongdoers.

The body's Chief Executive, Tony Battaglene, said Australia could not afford to have its reputation tarnished by dodgy operators.

"It seems strange that as an industry that we are welcoming higher regulation, but we are because one of the most important things for the wine sector is to have integrity of product," Mr Battaglene said.

"Once you lose your reputation, as the Australian cricket team has demonstrated quite clearly, it is very hard to get it back in the eye of the public.

"Stronger penalties are the main thing — that acts as a deterrent."


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Copycat produce has been a thorn in the side of other industries, including clothing and spirits.

Mr Battaglene said with the practice now apparently spreading to the wine industry, it is time to act.

"Anyone who has got a high-value product is a target for clever counterfeiters," he said.

"It is potentially an enormous problem, and that is why we need to do everything we can at our end to keep the integrity of the product.

"Wine Australia has always had the capacity to suspend export licences and alike, but what this does is strengthen it."

PUBLIC HEALTH NEWS

NIH rejected a study of alcohol advertising while pursuing industry funding for other research

Stat News By Sharon Begley APRIL 2, 2018

It’s rare for officials at the National Institutes of Health to summon university scientists from hundreds of miles away. So when Dr. Michael Siegel of Boston University and a colleague got the call to meet with the director of NIH’s Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, he said, “I knew we were in trouble.”

He never imagined, however, that at the 2015 meeting the director, George Koob, would leap out of his seat and scream at the scientists after their PowerPoint presentation on research the agency had eagerly funded on the association between alcohol marketing and underage drinking. “I don’t f***ing care!” Koob yelled, referring to alcohol advertising, according to the scientists.

Koob also made clear that NIAAA would pull back from such research, recalled Siegel and his colleague, David Jernigan of Johns Hopkins University, who described the previously undisclosed meeting in Bethesda, Md., in separate interviews with STAT. Shocked by the encounter, they retreated to an NIH cafeteria, asking each other what had just happened — and why.

It would take them three years to figure it out: In 2014 and 2015, Koob’s agency was quietly wooing the alcoholic beverage industry to contribute tens of millions of dollars for a study on whether drinking “moderate” amounts of alcohol was good for the heart. Those efforts were brought to light by recent reports in Wired and the New York Times.

Now STAT has found that the ties between Koob, his agency, and the alcohol industry were deeper than previously known — and that he told an industry official he would quash “this kind of work,” to which the industry objected. Doing so would be a radical departure from the NIH mission, in which decisions about what research to fund are supposed to be based on scientific merit and public need.

Koob, in a previously undisclosed email sent six months before the contentious 2015 meeting and provided to STAT, had assured the alcohol industry’s leading trade group that research like Jernigan’s and Siegel’s on alcohol advertising, which was published in respected journals, would never again be funded.

“Sam: For the record. This will NOT happen again,” Koob wrote in a 2014 email to Samir Zakhari, senior vice president for science at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the lobbying group for alcoholic beverage producers.

In a written response to STAT, Koob said the email “was to convey that I had no intention of supporting research that was not of the highest scientific quality. NIAAA funds a vast amount of research on underage drinking, which is among the Institute’s top research priorities.” An NIAAA spokesman said Koob, 70, and other officials were not available for interviews, and NIAAA officials said they could not speak to a reporter without clearance by NIH’s communications office.


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At the time of the 2015 meeting, no outsider was aware of NIAAA’s efforts to get industry funding for the very costly study of moderate drinking. With those revelations, Siegel said, “things finally made sense. If they’re soliciting money from industry, they wouldn’t want to do anything that would affect their chance of getting that money. Of course that will bias them toward intimidating researchers who study things [the industry doesn’t] like.”

In fact, Koob was true to his word. Jernigan applied for another NIAAA grant later in 2015, and received a high rating from a review panel comprised of other scientists. But an NIAAA Advisory Council that Koob leads has the ultimate authority on whether to fund studies, and it rejected the proposal.

The saga involving Siegel and Jernigan began in 2011, when they and colleagues launched a study of whether alcohol marketing is associated with underage drinking. The research came in response to a “request for applications” from NIAAA. Such requests reflect the institute’s priorities; when it identifies an important public health or scientific question, it wants to ensure researchers study it. In this case, research had shown that cigarette ads make teenagers more likely to smoke, and to smoke specific brands; might beer and liquor ads have the same effect?

The scientists were awarded an NIAAA grant, receiving roughly $600,000 per year from 2011 to 2014 to fund data collection, analysis, and the work of their graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Their “ABRAND” study — “Alcohol Brand Research Among Underage Drinkers” — eventually yielded 27 papers published in respected journals, including one in 2014 that found a strong link between what alcohol brands teenagers saw advertised on television in the previous 30 days and what brands they drank.

“That had never been reported before,” Siegel said.

Dr. Susanne Tanski of Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, who studies underage drinking, said Siegel’s and Jernigan’s paper became a key piece of evidence in the growing recognition that marketing by alcohol producers increases brand awareness among future customers.

The study did not sit well with the alcohol industry, nor with Koob, a neurobiologist who became NIAAA’s director in January 2014 after three decades at Scripps Research Institute in California. When a staffer at the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute penned an op-ed slamming Jernigan for having a “neo-prohibitionist agenda” funded with taxpayer dollars, Koob rushed to reassure the industry.

On July 30, 2014, he emailed Zakhari, who had joined the Distilled Spirits Council in 2012 two months after retiring from NIAAA, where he had worked for more than 20 years. The industry group had hosted discussions about funding for the moderate drinking study.

In the 6:11 p.m. email, after assuring Zakhari that “this will NOT happen again,” Koob continued, “It was funded over 3 years ago under a PA [project announcement] that does not exist anymore,” according to a copy of the email Siegel obtained through a public records request and shared with STAT. Koob ended with a promise: “I will NOT be funding this kind of work under my tenure. Best wishes george.”

Zakhari, who in his industry role criticizes studies showing that drinking alcohol is associated with some cancers

and disputes that alcohol abuse is rising, replied less than two hours later: “Thanks, George. I am 100% sure that you will spend research money on real science. You have several people in the division of epidemiology who push to fund this kind of research out of shear [sic] ignorance or because they are sympathetic. This kind of research not only wastes precious research dollars but also damages NIAAA’s stature within the NIH community. Best

regards, Sam”

A spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council, Frank Coleman, did not respond to questions about Zakhari’s communications with NIAAA but said his concern about Jernigan’s work “echoes the many questions that have been raised about his advocacy methodologies and conclusions.”

In his written response to STAT, Koob said the email exchange was triggered by “critical evaluation” of one of Jernigan’s studies “in the media and the scientific community.” In early 2015, he continued, “I informed Dr. Jernigan that I would be pleased to receive proposals on intervention-related research in the advertising domain, when a hypothesis was being tested that could assist the goal of preventing underage drinking.”


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A few months after the email exchange, Koob summoned Jernigan and Siegel to NIAAA’s offices. The meeting took place in January 2015, and Koob’s deputy and two other NIAAA officials also attended, said Siegel and Jernigan, whose recollections of the meeting were consistent.

Siegel summarized his and Jernigan’s ABRAND study, showed the NIAAA officials published papers describing their findings, and tried to convince them that studying advertising was important as part of a larger effort to reduce underage drinking, much as had been done for cigarette smoking.

“I have a clear memory of this because it was not something you could forget,” Siegel said. “Dr. Koob kept trying to downplay the importance of this research, insisting it was not advertising that made teenagers drink but peer pressure and parents. He was giving us the industry line.”

He and Jernigan agree that their study did not make an open-and-shut case that ads caused teens to drink the advertised brands, or to drink, period. It’s possible that kids who already drink, or drink certain brands, or who are inclined to, gravitate toward certain TV shows, and that those shows just happen to carry ads for those brands.

“That’s a perfectly legitimate scientific criticism of our work,” Jernigan said. “But that’s not the discussion we had.”

Instead, Koob responded to Siegel’s presentation with his profane declaration. He invoked his college-age son and his friends, saying underage drinking has nothing to do with what ads teenagers see.

Finally, Koob reiterated the pledge he had made to the alcohol industry group: No matter how high a score a grant proposal from the two scientists received from the reviewers who evaluate NIAAA funding requests, Siegel recalled Koob telling them, “I’ll never fund it.” Jernigan’s recollection is slightly different: He believes Koob left the door open to funding one more study.

Siegel and Jernigan remained puzzled about the meeting until the recent media revelations that NIAAA and academic scientists had, in 2014, pitched industry on a proposed study described as likely to provide enough evidence of the health benefits of moderate drinking for alcohol “to be recommended as part of a healthy diet.” NIAAA received $67 million for the study from industry, funneled through an NIH foundation, later in 2015.

It didn’t take three years for the scientists to conclude that Koob wasn’t bluffing about not funding “this kind of work.”

Jernigan had submitted a proposal for a small pilot study, to be funded at about $200,000 in each of two years, to analyze the Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of alcohol brands to see whether they were marketing their products in ways that could promote underage drinking.

In a June 2015 evaluation of the grant application, called a pink sheet, NIAAA reviewers said “the proposed research is significant and innovative.” The reviewers, according to the evaluation shared by Siegel, showed “an extremely high level of enthusiasm for this application” and scored it “in the exceptional range.”

The proposal then moved to the second layer of review, called the Advisory Council, which Koob chairs. Lower-scoring proposals can be funded and higher-scoring proposals denied. Jernigan’s social media study was denied funding by the council; he said he never received any explanation. The chairperson of the first review committee, Elizabeth D’Amico of RAND, declined through a spokesperson to discuss that denial.

Siegel has moved on from research on alcohol to studies of firearms. Jernigan continues to study alcohol and its marketing, with funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But because of NIAAA’s waning interest in the topic, he said, he has struggled to find adequate funding to support the young scientists he trains.


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INDUSTRY NEWS

A Record Number of UK Wines Went on Sale Last Year

The Drinks Business By Edith Hancock April 3, 2018

UK winemakers are celebrating a record year after nearly 4 million bottles of sparkling and still wines were released into the market in 2017.

There was a 64% rise in English and Welsh wines available in both the on and off-trade last year, compared with the 2.36 million bottles released in 2016, according to figures from HMRC.

Although the UK has been known for its commercial wine production since the 1950s, until now the industry’s growth has been relatively slow. Back in 2000, just 1.34 million bottles were released from bond, according to the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) which said said that “since then the numbers have steadily risen with some years faring better than others.”

The drinks bod said that part of the success of UK wineries was down to a bumper harvest in 2014, while the industry is also reaping the benefits of a “huge investment in the sector leading to an increase in vines planted over the last ten years.”

The rise in production is a promising sign despite the threat Brexit has posed on the UK’s drinks industry, according to WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, who said the quality of English and Welsh wine is now “so widely recognised, the wine industry’s newest challenge is meeting growing demand.”

“The English wine industry is a true British success story and has ambitious plans to increase exports,” he said. “We hope to see production continue to grow and forge ahead with new export opportunities.”

The news comes as a number of wineries specialising in sparkling wines have ramped up their production and received national acclaim.

Last week, Cornish sparkling producer Camel Valley became the first UK winery to be issued with a Royal Warrant, joining the ranks of several famous brands whose bottles bear the Royal coat of arms such as Martini Vermouth, Champagne Bollinger, Pol Roger, Pimm’s and Hine Cognac.

Meanwhile Rathfinny, England’s newest estate in Sussex, recently disgorged its first sparkling wines ahead of a planned release in June, after eight years of preparation.

The winery also plans to sell 800 bottles of its Blanc de Noirs 2015 in pint-sized bottles next year, a nod to Britain’s planned departure from the European Union.

Imperial pint bottles were banned in favour of metric measures when Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

The family run wine estate will increase the English wine portfolio and aims to eventually reach production of over 80,000 cases by 2025.

Sparkling wine accounts for 66% of all expressions produced in England and Wales, according to the WSTA.

Devonian Coast Wineries wins bid to have lawsuit moved to Nova Scotia

The Chronicle Herald By Chris Lambie April 2, 2018

Two Nova Scotia wine outfits will get to fight a big money court battle on their own turf.


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The case, which involves potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, pits a Toronto sales agent for booze makers against a Nova Scotia winery and its parent company that want the proceedings moved here.

“The defendants have demonstrated that substantially all of the relevant factors favour Nova Scotia, they have met the high threshold that Nova Scotia is a clearly more appropriate forum. Accordingly, in these circumstances, I conclude that it is appropriate for this court to decline to exercise jurisdiction,” Case Management Master Michael Phillip McGraw said in his March 27 written decision.

He granted a motion that stayed the case in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice.

Churchill Cellars Ltd., a Toronto-based company that represents suppliers of wines, spirits and beer in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, launched a civil suit more than a year ago in Ontario against Halifax’s Devonian Coast Wineries Ltd. and its subsidiary, Jost Vineyards Ltd., which operates a farm winery in Malagash. Churchill Cellars had acted as a sales agent for Jost from 2002 until February 2016, according to McGraw’s decision.

The suit also named defendants Carl Sparkes, who is president of the two Nova Scotia companies, and Jeff Haider, who lives in Nova Scotia and was the brands director of Churchill Cellars from September 2013 until February 2016.

In January 2016, Sparkes informed Churchill Cellars that Jost would be terminating its contract with the Toronto outfit and that he intended to hire Haider, who subsequently resigned.

That’s when Churchill reminded Haider his employment agreement contained a provision that, for six months, prevented him from soliciting its business or performing services for its customers that he dealt with while working for the Ontario outfit.

Churchill Cellars alleges that Haider “later advised that he was leaving the wine and spirits industry and would not be taking a position with (Jost Vineyards),” McGraw said.

The Ontario company “also states that Mr. Sparkes subsequently advised that as a result of the non-solicitation provision, (Jost Vineyards) would not be offering Mr. Haider a position.”

But shortly after his last day at Churchill Cellars, the Toronto outfit alleges Jost hired him to work in its real estate branch “while he was actually providing services to (Jost Vineyards) in contravention of the non-solicitation clause of the employment agreement.”

Churchill’s November 2016 statement of claim seeks damages from Devonian Coast Wineries and Jost Vineyards of $64,163 in commissions and unpaid invoices, as well as $448,000 for breach of contract. The Ontario outfit also claims $192,461 from Haider, as well as Devonian Coast, Jost Vineyards, and Sparkes “for inducing breach of contract and in the alternative, intentional interference with economic relations.”

DAILY NEWS

America’s Beer Distributors Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month

NBWA April 3, 2018

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Throughout the month of April, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) will be recognizing Alcohol Awareness Month, as highlighted by the U.S. Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to raise awareness about alcohol abuse.

“Alcohol is a product that can be enjoyed when consumed responsibly, but unlike peanut butter or chewing gum, alcohol can be abused,” said NBWA President and CEO Craig Purser.

“Alcohol isn’t a product for everyone at all times in all places. Year after year, national surveys shows that a third of the U.S. adult population chooses not to consume alcohol for various reasons. That is why it needs to be regulated in an efficient manner. The work of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as well as alcohol


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regulators in the states – which enforce federal and state alcohol laws – cannot be underestimated,” Purser added.

At the national level, the TTB enforces regulations established by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act as they relate to alcohol production, permitting and marketing. TTB ensures industry integrity through a comprehensive system of licensing and background checks.

The TTB also regulates more than 50,000 permitted alcohol beverage operations in the United States, including more than 20,000 permitted wholesalers (distributors); 8,600 permitted breweries; 12,500 permitted wineries; 2,400 liquor producers; and 10,000-plus alcohol importers. The TTB works to enforce trade practice regulations at 640,000 licensed retailers across the country, and agency officials review well over 100,000 labels and thousands of formulas each year to protect U.S. consumers from counterfeit, adulterated or illegally produced products.

In 2017, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, expressing support for the TTB. The letter, which was signed by 240 members of Congress, highlights the value of the American system of alcohol regulation and applauds TTB’s work as the primary federal regulator of the alcohol industry.

“Funding our regulators at the federal and state levels is critical for protecting consumers and encouraging responsible alcohol consumption,” Purser said. “America’s beer distributors provide consumers with more choice and variety at bars and restaurants and on store shelves, and strongly advocate for enjoying it responsibly.”

NBWA encourages parents, educators and community leaders to join efforts to encourage responsible and legal consumption by utilizing SAMHSA resources that can help educate young people about the dangers of underage drinking and the importance of making smart decisions. More information about these resources can be found at www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.

Parent's Talk section - Smoking and Alcohol

News Channel 10 By Brent McClure, General Manager April 2, 2018

Let’s Talk About Smoking

Tobacco is one of the most addictive and deadly drugs. Anti-smoking campaigns have made a difference in the way our society looks at smoking. However, some young people are still taking up the habit. Children under age seven believe that “smoking is bad”, but they see glamorous images of smoking on television and in movies. They often copy celebrities or people they know.

Here are some common situations and possible responses to help you talk with your kids about smoking:

“Look Mommy, I’m smoking!”

“I see you’re pretending to smoke! I’m glad it’s just a pretend cigarette, because we know smoking is really bad for you.”

“If smoking is so bad, why do you smoke?”

“I know that smoking is not good for my body. Once you start to smoke, it’s very hard to quit. I wish I had never started. I have to make sure I keep the smoke away from you.”

“I’m afraid that Grandpa is going to die because he smokes.”

“I can see why you’re worried. I worry too. Cigarettes contain drugs that make your body hungry for more, so it’s very hard to quit. That’s why Grandpa doesn’t want you to start.”

“Michael’s older sister and her friends smoke. They think it’s cool.”


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“Maybe they think it makes them look grown-up, but you know that smoking is bad for you. Sometimes you have to do what is good for you and not worry about what others think.”

Let’s Talk About Alcohol

Alcohol is a legal and accepted drug in our society. Parents’ attitudes and use influence a child’s view of alcohol. Try to imagine your children watching you and others drink. Do they see you unwind with a drink? Do all of your social events and celebrations include alcohol? Do you ever ask your children to bring a drink to you?

It is important to let your children know your family values and rules about drinking. You can start by answering their questions about alcohol. Here are some practical answers that may help you:

“Can I have a sip of your beer?”

“No. This is a drink for adults and it’s not good for growing children. Would you like some juice?”

“Why do you drink it?”

“I enjoy the taste, but if I drink too much it will change the way I feel, so I have to be careful.”

“What’s in this pop that makes it taste so funny?”

“This drink has alcohol in it. It’s a drink for adults. I need to be more careful to keep it out of your reach and you need to remember not to take someone else’s drink.”

“I thought you’re not supposed to drink and drive and that’s what you’re doing!”

“I’m drinking a can of juice. When I have a drink that contains alcohol, like beer or wine, I will not drive.”

“Why did Uncle Jim start walking and talking funny at the party last night?”

“Uncle Jim had too much alcohol to drink. Too much alcohol can make you feel and act differently. It can even make you sick to your stomach. What do you think about the way he acted?”

Make sure there are no leftover drinks or open bottles that a child could get into around your house. A child can be harmed seriously by even a small amount of alcohol.

Help Your Children Feel Good About Themselves

Children need healthy self-esteem and a sense of responsibility to help them stay away from alcohol and other drugs.

Parents can help their children feel good about themselves in many ways. Children need to feel that they are an important part of the family. Spend time with your children and listen to them. Let them know that you want to hear about their thoughts and feelings.

Children can help with family jobs such as making beds or doing the dishes. When we recognize their work as helpful – even when it is not a complete or “proper” job – we build their self-image and their sense of responsibility.

Let your children play and have fun – by themselves, with other kids or with your family. Children get a sense of pride when they learn new skills or take on challenges. Remember that the point is for children to enjoy themselves and get involved – not to win or be the best!

Setting the Rules, yet Letting Your Children Make Choices

Children need clear limits and rules, but they also need a chance to learn how to make decisions. For example, you can set a definite bedtime hour, but even very young children can choose their own pajamas. With older children, let them choose what to do after school, as long as you provide the choices. For example, you could say, “Would you like to play outside or read a book?” Later, you could ask them, “Are you glad you made that choice? Would you do something different next time?”


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Show Your Love

Finally, let your children know how much you love them – “just because” – regardless of what they do or how they act. Let them know this “unconditional” love and respect is there, even when you are angry or disappointed in how they’re behaving. Children who feel loved and accepted have a much better chance of avoiding problems with alcohol and other drugs when they’re older.

Parent Action on Drugs.org

“Virtual Bar” App Provides Tool to Stay Safe During Alcohol Responsibility Month As BAC calculator eclipses 20,000 downloads, new and improved version allows users to compare favorites like tacos, pizza, hamburgers, and Chinese food

Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility Source: Responsibility.org April 2, 2018

Arlington, Va., April 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) today released an updated version of its Virtual Bar app and website, which allows users to explore different factors that affect their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The newest version of the Virtual Bar demonstrates how popular foods affect an individual’s BAC.

The update coincides with Alcohol Responsibility Month, which is observed each April.

“The Virtual Bar is a useful tool that shows how factors like height, weight, age and food consumption impact blood alcohol concentration,” said Ralph Blackman, president and CEO of Responsibility.org. “Our latest technology, backed by research, shows that eating before drinking alcohol is an essential component of being a responsible drinker. Our updated app helps users understand how different foods affect their BAC.”

In April of 2015, Responsibility.org released the Virtual Bar to educate people about the factors that impact their BAC. The app allows users to simply input their stats, and the Virtual Bar uses a complex algorithm to estimate the individual’s BAC. With the latest update, users can now compare how a double cheeseburger with fries will affect their BACs compared to a beef burrito with chips. The app also allows users to compare Chinese food items and pizza.

“Food can have a profound impact on an individual’s BAC,” said Dary Fiorentino, Ph.D. of DF Consulting and Alliant International University, creator of the Virtual Bar algorithm. “This new and advanced model is another way to help promote responsible drinking decisions, especially as people explore how foods they are likely to consume when out drinking effect alcohol absorption and thus their peak BAC level.”

The Virtual Bar helps users see how their night could go depending on the amount and type of food eaten and drinks consumed. For example:

• If a 25-year-old female who weighs 120-lb. and stands 5’ 3” tall drank three standard mixed drinks over the course of an hour, her peak BAC would be .086. If she’d eaten two slices of pizza 30 minutes prior to drinking, her peak BAC would be .056. On the other hand, if she’d eaten orange chicken with a side of chow mein 30 minutes prior to drinking, her peak BAC would be .05.

• If a 30-year-old male who weighs 190-lb. and stands 5’10” tall drank three standard mixed drinks over the course of an hour, his peak BAC would be .062. If he’d eaten a beef burrito with chips and salsa 30 minutes prior to drinking, his peak BAC would be .038. Comparatively, if he’d eaten orange chicken with chow mein and an eggroll before drinking, his peak BAC would be .034.

Responsibility.org maintains that the Virtual Bar is solely an estimation for education purposes and should not take the place of someone’s responsible decisions when it comes to drinking alcohol, or about whether it is safe to drive.


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The Virtual Bar app is available on iTunes and Google Play for mobile devices and the Apple Watch. For more information, please visit www.responsibility.org/virtualbar.

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About the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) is a national not-for-profit that leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Edrington; Mast-Jägermeister US; and Pernod Ricard USA. Recognizing 26 years of impact, Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs that bring individuals, families and communities together to guide a lifetime of conversations around alcohol responsibility and offering proven strategies to stop impaired driving. To learn more, please visit us at www.responsibility.org.

Attachment:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9ef57de-f99d-45b4-92c6-ee9ace350a1c

Georgia Cassady Responsibility.org 2023551947 [email protected]

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of NABCA members, free-of-charge. If you do not wish to receive this daily service, please respond with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the Subject line. In addition, if there is another individual within your company who should also be receiving this service, please forward their NAME, TITLE, EMPLOYER, and EMAIL ADDRESS to [email protected]. Thank you for your time and attention as we continue to work to improve upon the services and benefits that we provide to our members. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association.

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