For Immediate Release
December 13, 2004

Contact: Samantha-Hope Atkins 225-806-8552
Laurie Leiber 415-456-5692

David Battles Goliath in the Bayou
Parents Sue Booze Seller and Maker in Poisoning of LSU Student

BATON ROUGE, LA (December 13, 2004)-Parents of former Louisiana State University student Corey Domingue filed a wrongful death suit October 1, 2004 against Winn-Dixie Stores, Bacardi USA and the makers of Castillo Puerto Rican Rum. The suit asserts that Winn-Dixie contributed to the alcohol poisoning death of Tammy and Kirk Domingue's 19-year-old son when it sold him the potent alcohol and failed to adequately warn him of the risks associated with its use.

Although the suit seeks damages and medical expenses resulting from Corey's death, the Domingue family is primarily interested in alerting the public to the deadly toll of underage drinking and the failure of some retailers, distributors and manufacturers to reduce harm-by avoiding sales to youth and adequately warning children and young people of drinking risks, particularly that of acute alcohol poisoning.

"We can't let Winn-Dixie and Bacardi pretend that Corey's death isn't their responsibility," says Tammy Domingue, surviving mother of Corey Domingue. "These businesses profit from underage drinking. They must be held accountable because they do too much to make drinking attractive to young people and too little to warn of its potential for harm."

Like many parents in recovery from addiction, Tammy and Kirk Domingue made a point of telling their son that he was at a higher risk of becoming alcoholic. "The alcohol industry is always saying that we should be responsible," says Samantha-Hope Atkins, of WeRecover. "So here are two parents who are being responsible by asking for changes in alcohol industry practices that will protect their remaining children from predictable harm."

Domingue's death from alcohol poisoning is the most devastating symptom of a drinking phenomenon common on college campuses. A recent study showed that high risk drinking-including extreme binges of 24 or more drinks in a row-is at its worst among the youngest college students and at the beginning of the academic year.¹ Intensive marketing to promote drinking bombards young people who live in campus communities. Responsible beverage sales and service, reductions in the numbers of outlets that sell alcohol around campuses, and police enforcement programs that deter underage sales can reduce binge drinking.

The Marin Institute works to reduce alcohol problems through environmental prevention-improving our physical and social environment to advance public health and safety.  The Marin Institute promotes effective alcohol policy, conducts media advocacy, and supports grassroots campaigns in Marin County, California and nationwide.

"Drinking to Extremes: Theoretical and Empirical Analyses of Peak Drinking Levels among Coolege Students," Paul J. Gruenewald, Ph.D., Fred W. Johnson, Ph.D., John M. Light, Ph.D., and Robert Saltz, Ph. D., Journal of Studies on Alcohol , November 2003, pp.818-824.