Blog
Governor Newsom: Don’t Let Your Wine Interests Trump Your Ethics
by Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director/CEO, Alcohol Justice
Alcohol prevention advocates are unsure what to expect from the new governor of California, Gavin Newsom. Newsom ran on a platform supporting a single-payer universal health care system. I served on his own Blue Ribbon Health Care Commission which eventually created a partial “universal health care” scheme in San Francisco, so I very much believe he cares for health care. Alcohol-related harm is a major expense for California, to the tune of $14.5 billion annual cost to government.
Stories of Alcohol Justice
Dear Friend,
We have some very encouraging stories of Alcohol Justice to tell:
- We led a successful campaign against another 4 a.m. bar bill in California
- We stopped two legislative attempts to introduce "powdered alcohol" in California
- We helped pass a bill that set a very bright line between alcohol and cannabis products in California
- We joined with a coalition of other national groups to pressure DJKahlid to stop advertising alcohol to his predominantly underage Instagram subscribers
- We founded and support the Los Angeles Drug & Alcohol Policy Alliance (L.A.DAPA), a coalition of L.A.-based prevention, treatment and other social minded agencies advocating for safe and healthy communities by reducing drug and alcohol-related harm through public awareness and policy change
- We founded and support the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA), a statewide coalition of over 50 diverse organizations dedicated to protecting health and safety, and preventing alcohol-related harm through statewide action
But honestly, it's not getting any easier to stop alcohol industry-backed legislation and legislators. In fact there is already another 4 a.m. bar bill we will need to fight next year.
But your end-of-the-year, tax-deductible gift will put you on the frontlines of that battle and all our other battles as grass-roots advocates for public health and safety. You will become a member of Alcohol Justice and support our efforts in 2019 to turn back the tide of Big Alcohol's negative influence in our communities.
Please join us today and be a part of next year's stories of Alcohol Justice.
Thank You & Happy Holidays!
Bruce Lee Livingston
Executive Director /CEO
Alcohol Justice
Tell Gov. Newsom what you think
Greetings Advocate,
As the old year winds down, we continue to celebrate our recent legislative victories and prepare to tackle the challenges of 2019. But before we ring out the old we are being given an opportunity to tell California's next Governor what is important to us.
Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom's staff is circulating a brief survey that gives us an unusual opportunity to put our most critical concerns on his desk before he takes office in January.
Please take this opportunity to let him know that:
- We are passionate about reducing alcohol-related harm in our state
- We want him to veto any new attempt to keep bars or restaurants open past 2 a.m.
- Lowering the legal BAC from .08 to .05 would surely save lives and reduce injuries
As an advocate for public health and safety, do not let this unique opportunity pass by. Click below, take the quick survey, and write in these most important alcohol-related issues we think the Governor needs to know about.
Thank You and Happy Holidays,
Bruce Lee Livingston
Executive Director / CEO
Alcohol Justice
GUEST VOICES: Why It’s No Longer Cool to Give Gifts of Booze
by Michael Scippa, Public Affairs Director, Alcohol Justice
With holiday gift-giving time upon us, we are being assaulted again by massive alcohol industry ad spends targeting shoppers with reasons why a bottle or can of overpriced Sonoma Valley sparkling wine, or a seasonally-flavored, high alcohol content, spirit-based concoction, or a four-pack of limited run “craft-brewed” Xmas ales would be appreciated by every adult on your gift list. The sale circulars are in the mail, and the announcements of big discounts at the big-box stores have been appearing in social media, your Sunday papers (remember them?), and snail-mail and email boxes. Then there are the cliché TV spots with bright and shiny young people, toasting each other with well-paid smiles around Xmas trees and fireplaces (shot sometime last summer) popping up all over cable and streaming channels (i.e. if you’re going to binge-watch something this holiday season, why not binge-drink something too?).
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