The Charge for Harm Alliance – a diverse coalition of treatment and prevention providers, public health advocates, consumers advocates, public safety groups, youth, and labor – launched a campaign in Los Angeles on October 19 to pass an alcohol mitigation fee in California in 2010.
As members of the new alliance rallied in South Central Los Angeles to advocate for the passage of AB 1019, the Alcohol-Related Services Program, there was a simultaneous committee hearing at San Francisco City Hall on a resolution asking San Francisco to support AB 1019. The full Board of Supervisors voted 10–0 on October 26 to pass the resolution of support.
Also launched on October 19, ChargeForHarm.org, a new web site loaded with information on AB 1019 and alcohol harm, including powerful video testimonials.
AB 1019, authored by Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose), would establish the Alcohol-Related Services Program within the California Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs. A $1.44 billion annual alcohol mitigation fee will fund the program and mark the first time the industry has begun to pay its fair share of California’s annual alcohol-related trauma care, hospitalization, treatment, prevention, and criminal justice costs.
Over 10,000 people a year die from alcohol-related causes in California. There are 100 incidents of alcohol-related harm every hour including injuries, violent crimes and high-risk sex. Since 1991, California alcohol excise taxes have decreased in real value by 45 percent, while foreign-based alcohol corporations reap enormous profits from sales in the state. It is definitely time Charge for Harm and tell Big Alcohol to pay its fair share.
