Safer Super Bowl Sunday

Problem:
Super Bowl Sunday brings a super dose of alcohol-related problems to communities across the country. Even people who don't drink experience many of these problems "secondhand." Alcohol-related injuries, community disturbances, violence and even trash on public streets place a disproportionate burden on taxpayers-who underwrite the cost of public safety response, public works, and the criminal justice system. Excess absenteeism from work on the Monday after the Super Bowl leads to higher priced good and services. Super Bowl beer ads reach millions of young viewers-fueling our nation's costly and tragic epidemic of underage drinking. But with your help, this year's Super Bowl could be different.

Opportunity:
Unlike an earthquake or hurricane-natural events whose destructive impact can only be minimized-we know when the Super Bowl will happen (Sunday, February 6, 2005) and we can both predict and prevent many of the problems that will occur. Because most of the problems associated with Super Bowl Sunday are fueled by alcohol, we know that addressing the excess availability and promotion of alcoholic beverages can reduce the frequency and severity of these problems.

Proposal:
The Marin Institute is seeking campaign partners that will take one or more of the actions listed below to help reduce secondhand alcohol impacts this Super Bowl:

• Promote Responsible Beverage Service at home and in bars, restaurants and other businesses licensed to serve and sell alcohol. Responsible Beverage Service is a set of policies and practices that prevent over-consumption (also known as binge drinking) and limit underage access.
• Talk Back to irresponsible beer ads with our user-friendly complaint form and encourage friends, neighbors and co-workers to do the same.
• Subscribe to our electronic newsletter and action alerts to receive updates on materials supporting community activities to reduce secondhand alcohol impacts this Super Bowl.

Our Commitment and Request:
The Marin Institute will provide background information and tools to support your implementation of community activities promoting a safer Super Bowl Sunday. We will also do outreach to national media. If you let us know how you are participating in the campaign, we can incorporate your activities into our news pitch. The more we know about your local activities, the easier it will be to demonstrate that there is a growing movement of people who are working to prevent alcohol's secondhand impacts-instead of just paying for them. Send an email with contact information and your plans, however tentative, to LaurieL@MarinInstitute.org.