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Through a variety of actions at the local, state, federal, and international levels, Marin Institute works to keep Big Alcohol in check, holding the industry accountable for reckless marketing and trade practices, while advocating for better policies to curb the harmful effects of alcohol in our communities. Find out how you can help.


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North Carolina: A Moral Duty to Keep Our Liquor System

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North Carolina: A Moral Duty to Keep Our Liquor System

Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010, By Gary Pendleton
Source: NewsObserver.com

Reproduction of article first published on NewsObserver.com

Following the repeal of Prohibition, in 1937 North Carolina established the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, and along with 18 other states became what is now known as a "controlled" state, whereby the state controls the sale of alcohol.

In some states the controlled substance may be beer, wine and liquor; in some states it may be just liquor; and in others it may be liquor and wine or just the distribution process. All other states are basically wide open.

To illustrate the control aspect, note that in Wake County there are 23 liquor stores. With our county population, if we were using South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee's model, we would have 400 liquor outlets. In the states that are controlled, generally, driving while impaired charges and alcoholism are about 10 percent lower than in non-controlled states.

As a private business owner, I have always favored privatizing those businesses that could be privatized, because the government cannot run a business as effectively as the private sector. But in the mater of alcohol, I take a moral stand that the last thing we need is to make it easier for someone to get alcohol. Therefore, I like our system.

I previously served on the board of directors of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, Inc., headquartered in Washington. This is the organization of the 19 controlled states. Among the many things I learned is that North Carolina is the only controlled state that, statewide, has locally owned liquor stores; the state owns none of our stores (they are owned by the local ABC systems).

We have two systems in North Carolina, a municipal system and a county system. For example, Guilford County never passed a countywide referendum that allowed sales through liquor stores, so Guilford County does not have countywide sales. High Point and Greensboro, which are in Guilford County, have municipal systems. Wake County has a countywide system.

At ABC stores in Wake County, patrons do not have to worry about loud music or trouble in the parking lots. The same cannot be said for liquor store outlets in some other states.

The liquor companies ship their products to the state's central warehouse in Raleigh, then the local boards order it and the state's contractor, LB&B, ships it to ABC outlets. The state sets the prices for the list of approved liquors. If certain liquors are not on the state-approved list, they can be special-ordered by a case of six bottles.

Wake County's board has the highest level of profits, generally about 17 percent per year, and is a governmental entity. The board distributes profits to 14 municipalities in the county and to numerous nonprofits such as the Raleigh Rescue Mission and The Healing Place. Money also goes to Wake County government and for law enforcement. State law requires that profits be given for law enforcement (a minimum of 5 percent) and substance abuse (alcohol and drugs) education, treatment or research (minimum of 7 percent).

All of the profits are going back to the local economy in Wake County. Approximately $5.5 million and $3.6 million are given to the local governments and nonprofits, respectively, each year. If the system is privatized, the residents of our county would miss out on benefits the profits can provide.

Gary Pendleton, former chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, is former chairman of the Wake ABC Board.

Last Updated ( Monday, 22 February 2010 12:49 )
 

Marin Institute on the Road

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Marin Institute on the Road

Marin Institute staffers often hit the road to present our research reports and advocate for policy change. Where is Marin Institute this month? Check this page for the most up-to-date information on upcoming presentations at various conferences and events. We will also post their presentations here, as they become available.




Michele Simon, Research and Policy Director

April 8-10, 2010: Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood 7th Annual Consuming Kids Summit, Wheelock College, Boston
Presentation: There Is No Free Speech Right to Market to Kids - Corporate Myths and Policy Solutions

Past Conferences and Presentations

Bruce Livingston
December 11, 2009: Centre for Addiction Research of BC, Vancouver, British Columbia
Presentation: Keynote Presentation on Taxes

November 12-14, 2009: International Drug Policy Reform Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Presentation: Lessons Learned from Alcohol Legislation

Michele Simon
February 8-11, 2010: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's 20th Annual National Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C.
Presentation: Raising Alcohol Taxes - Wins, Losses, and Countering Industry Myths (with Judy Cushing)

December 6, 2009: Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, Charleston, South Carolina
Presentation: Dispelling Public Health Myths

November 23, 2009: European Center for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing, Brussels
Presentation: Big Alcohol Politics: A View from the United States

November 7-11, 2009: American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia
Presentations:
1) Preemption in Alcohol Control: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
2) Failure of Self-Regulation of Alcohol Advertising
3) Public Health Threats to State Regulation of Alcohol (moderator)


November 2-3, 2009: Industry-Medicine Relationships: Comparing Tobacco, Alcohol, Food and Pharmaceuticals, (American Legacy Conference), New York
Presentation: Taking a Page from Big Food: How the Alcohol Industry Spins its Products and Healthy and Nutritious

October 18-20, 2009: Second Annual Center for Alcohol Policy Alcohol Law Symposium, Chicago
Presentations:
1) Public Health and Alcohol Policy - Dispelling Myths, Forging Solutions
2) Implications of Beer Industry Globalization


Sarah Mart
October 29-31, 2009: Washington State Prevention Summit, Yakima, WA
Presentations:
1) Big Alcohol and Underage Drinking
2) Out-of-Home Alcohol Advertising


November 17, 2009: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University
CASACONFERENCES: How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope, New York
Presentations:
The Teen World: The Straight Dope (panelist), discussing Facebook alcohol promotion


Charisse Lebron
November 1-4, 2009: National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, Fort Worth, TX
Presentation: Regulating Alcoholic Beverages and the Role of Public Health

Last Updated ( Friday, 19 February 2010 13:30 )