Press Releases

Recent Relevant Media Coverage

• University of Wisconsin Bans Beer ADS During Sports Broadcasts on the Radio, Capital Times: August 27, 2009
• Drunk Driver Legislation Moving in the Assembly, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
• Wisconsin State Journal Editorial on Needed Legislative Changes, August 13, 2009
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial:Losses for All of Us
• Hold Problem Bars Accountable in Madison, Wisconsin State Journal, May 28,2009
• Tax the Rich Before Going After Beer Drinkers, The Capital Times Web, May 26, 2009
• Response to above editorial Beer Tax Editorial Buys into Denial of State Problem, Capital Times Web, May 27, 2009

Legislation

• Media Coverage of the Proposed Beer Tax
  1. Lawmakers propose increase in beer tax
     http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/43995077.html
  2. Leave beer tax alone, bar owners say
     http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20090430/SPJ0101/904300588/1657/
     SPJ01
  3. Proposed increase in Wisconsin beer tax falls flat Health workers, police support first boost in 40 years
     http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090430/GPG0101/904300620/
     1207/GPG01
  4. Wisconsin beer tax increase revived Bill would make tax five times higher
     http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090430/APC0101/904300562/1003/APC01
  5. Wisconsin beer tax proposal faces long odds
     http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BJSSM5QBJN5
  6. Beer tax increase proposal on tap
     http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/04/30/news/z04beer.txt
  7. State lawmakers to re-introduce bill raising tax on beer
     http://www.dailycardinal.com/article/23022
  8. This is the text of the new Beer Tax bill by Representative Terese Berceau and Senator Risser:
     http://danedocs.countyofdane.com/webdocs/pdf/commissions/Beer_Tax_Bill.pdf
  9. AWARE Coalition Poll Shows a Majority of Wisconsin Voters Support the First Increase in the Beer Tax in 40 Years!
     View Press Release
     View Survey Results
  10. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial: "It is a matter of government malpractice not to look at increasing alcohol taxes as the state is burdened with the costs of alcohol abuse and the state budget deficit looms so large."
      http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/41601287.html
• Ignition Interlocks
  
  From "USA Today"
  • http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-29-drunk_N.htm
  • http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-01-02-drunk-driving-ignition-locks_N.htm
  • http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/04/drunken-driving.html
• State Legislative Activity on Alcohol Abuse
  • Template of Alcohol Abuse-Related Bills Introduced in Wisconsin's Legislature (by Mickey Beil)
    http://danedocs.countyofdane.com/webdocs/pdf/commissions/Alcohol_Abuse
    _Bills.pdf
  • Article from Marshfield News Herald on current bills in the Wisconsin Legislature:
    http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20090303/MNH0101/903030345/
    1980
  • Article from "Join Together" (Thanks to David Ahrens, Mary Huser, Caley Powell)
    States Serving Up Alcohol Taxes to Patch Budgets, Pay for Treatment
    
    Link to full page: http://www.jointogether.org/news/features/2009/states-serving-up-alcohol.html
    
    Summary:
    
    For decades alcohol industry lobbyists have succeeded in derailing most attempts to raise state alcohol taxes, but the lousy economy has many cash-hungry states now considering alcohol-tax increases -- in some cases, to help pay for addiction treatment services as well as address budget deficits.
    
    Sign up for news alerts from Join Together
  • March 1, 2009 Wisconsin State Journal editorial supporting an increase in the beer tax:
    http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/441038
  • Representative Terese Berceau's powerpoint presentation on the proposed Beer Tax increase:
    http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm76/news/
  • This is the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel site that provides updated information on Alcohol Related issues - including the known positions of individual legislators on alcohol policy issues. (Thank you, Jamie McCarville.)
    http://data.jsonline.com/news/capitolconnect/survey.aspx
  • This is the official site of the Wisconsin Legislature. It makes it possible to track specific bills. (Thank you, Jamie McCarville.)
    http://www.legis.state.wi.us

Media Coverage of Alcohol Abuse

Dane County

• County Executive Holds Press Conference to Report Progress on Alcohol Initiatives
• 24 Cops Break Up Madison Avenue Brawl; "the Entire Bar Was Fighting" The Capital Times, May 18, 2009
• Falk Determined to Battle State's Alcohol Problems, The Capital Times, (September 24, 2008)
• Falk Announces Alcohol Initiative Budget Proposals, The Capital Times (September 24, 2008)
• Q&A with Kathleen Falk: Taking on Wisconsin's Drinking Culture, The Capital Times (September 25, 2008)

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel series “Wasted in Wisconsin” and front page editorial:

• Editorial
• Series
• Legislative Issues

CBS “60 Minutes” segment on the issue of prosecuting drunk drivers who cause fatalities:

• Article and Video