Alcohol

05/28/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today vetoed House Bill 962, which would permit the possession of firearms in Tennessee restaurants and bars. Law enforcement officials and district attorneys from across the state flanked Bredesen as he spoke about his reasons for the veto.

"Let me be very clear: I am a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms. I am, and have always been, committed to preserving the rights of the Second Amendment: basic American rights. These rights are protected by the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution as well," Bredesen said.    » read more »

Exposure to alcohol is a known cause of birth defects

May 26, 2009 -- The number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is not decreasing, according to a 15 year-study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant, the study says.

The drinking patterns persisted despite repeated warnings from surgeons general about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant. The surgeons general have told pregnant women, and women who may become pregnant to abstain from alcohol consumption in order to eliminate the chance of giving birth to a baby with alcohol related birth defects.    » read more »

Troubling Alcohol Use Found Among Young Veterans; New Study Finds Disturbing Risk of Binge Drinking Among Servicemembers

August 13, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Yesterday, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a study on alcohol abuse among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. According to the study, combat exposure significantly increases servicemembers' risk of heavy drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. Young servicemembers are at the highest risk of developing these problems following their deployments. JAMA also found, "Those born after 1980 were at 6.72 increased odds of new-onset binge drinking."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2008 – Defense Department officials are assessing ways to better prepare servicemembers, particularly members of the reserve and National Guard, for the stresses of combat so they’re better able to avoid alcohol-related problems when they return home, defense officials said today.

The goal, officials said, is to beef up existing strategies to address alcohol issues before and during deployments to mitigate post-deployment drinking problems.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced that more than 125 additional state troopers will hit the roads Aug. 18-24, ramping up DUI, seat belt and aggressive driving enforcement during a statewide “Take Back Our Highways” traffic safety campaign.

Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy joined the governor at a Montgomery news conference to unveil plans for the traffic safety and enforcement effort, which DPS successfully pioneered last year to combat Alabama’s rising fatality rate. Trooper-worked fatalities dropped by 62 in 2007, and troopers have worked 93 fewer fatalities this year, compared with the same period last year.    » read more »

March 17, 2008 -- “We are pleased with the Court’s decision upholding the scientific reliability of the Alcotest and the admissibility of its results in evidence. The Court’s ruling provides a firm foundation for using this next generation of breath testing instrument in the enforcement of our drunken driving laws.    » read more »

Offers recommendations to reduce lost revenue

January 28, 2008 – The Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) and the Michigan Authorized Alcohol Distribution Agents today issued a report that estimates that the state of Michigan loses $14 million annually due to the illegal importation of alcohol. The MLCC outlined a series of steps that should be taken to combat the state’s loss of revenue.    » read more »

January 10, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced his plan to better protect Missourians from drunk drivers requiring repeat offenders to modify their vehicles to ensure they cannot endanger other Missourians by drinking and driving.    » read more »

More Than 155,000 Traffic and Criminal Citations Issued Statewide During Holiday Campaign

1/8/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today that state and local law enforcement officers issued citations to 4,367 motorists for driving while impaired during the Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. The campaign, which ran from Nov. 30, 2007 to Jan. 2, yielded 155,194 traffic and criminal citations statewide.    » read more »

Dec.19, 2007 -- Pierre, SD - More than 25 bars and restaurants statewide are giving their patrons a message they hope will stick.

This Saturday, establishments in South Dakota's Pierre, Keystone, Rapid City, Rockerville, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Yankton are distributing “don’t drink and drive” sticky notes to customers when they deliver their bills.    » read more »

November 21, 2007 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today announced that 23 communities will receive grants to develop, strengthen and maintain substance abuse prevention services throughout the state.

The Governor said each community will receive up to $68,000 for this fiscal year, with the option of continuation funding based on project milestones. The grants will impact underage drinking and high-risk alcohol and marijuana use by Vermonters age 25 and younger.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- Santa Fe — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced today that New Mexico ranked 11th among all states in a Mothers Against Drunk Driving “State Progress Report” in the battle against drunk driving.

“I am pleased that MADD’s report reflects the progress we have made here in New Mexico to combat drunk driving,” said Governor Richardson. “We are working tirelessly to fight DWI and we are seeing the results, but there is still more work to be done."    » read more »

Military Personnel Who Serve in War Zones Face Increased Risk for Alcohol Abuse, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, and Marital and Family Conflict, IOM Report Confirms

Nov. 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON -- Military service in a war zone increases service members' chances of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders, and depression, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.    » read more »

October 23, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley today promoted legislation that will strengthen Alabama’s penalties for DUI convictions and close a loophole that currently allows repeat drunk drivers to elude harsher punishments. The proposal will allow for every DUI offense to count toward felony status and not just those committed in a five-year period.    » read more »

10/17/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to crackdown on DUI offenders and to prevent minors from getting alcohol. The five bills recently signed into law strengthen current DUI laws to discourage drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel and to increase penalties for underage drinking violations and the manufacturing of fraudulent ID’s.    » read more »