Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Impaired judgment on alcohol bills

True to its history of impaired judgment when it comes to handling alcohol, the Indiana General Assembly this year placed narrow business interests ahead of public welfare — and didn’t even do so evenhandedly.

Regrettably, Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law bills to expand Sunday hours for bars, give microbreweries a special dispensation to sell carryouts on Sundays and allow booze sales on Election Day.

As has been its custom in refereeing the endless war between the different types of beverage retailers, the legislature picked winners and losers in the carryout arena using the rationalization that microbreweries can serve as tourist destinations.

Out-of-town spenders, and fear of their disdain for “Naptown,” also figured in the dubious move to extend Sunday tavern hours, now 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday, to 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Alcohol laws have been a endless war between many people.

Lawmakers, in effect, saw only the upside to giving drinkers more opportunities, sellers additional revenue and the state extra tax dollars.

Those who study and combat the problems of alcoholism, underage drinking and drunken driving cite the heavy toll, in money and taxes as well as human suffering, that goes along with increased access to intoxicants. They raise the question: If alcohol is a product that government has an obligation to regulate, just how loose can that regulation be before it becomes merely token?

A happy retailer inadvertently raised another pertinent question when he told The Star the new law was needed so that visitors for the Super Bowl and other events would not view Indianapolis as “small town.” We would rather think the first duty of the city, and the state, is to the health and safety of residents; followed closely by the health and safety of those with whom they share their space. Image, profit and pleasure for outsiders are secondary values. Or should be.

These issues will be with us for a while. Pressure from grocers, pharmacies and big box retailers to sell alcohol on Sundays will continue at the Statehouse, while their rivals, the package stores, will contest that change, pleading hardship.

Meanwhile, the package stores’ association has filed a lawsuit in Marion Superior Court challenging the ease with which supermarkets and drugstores get alcoholic beverage permits. Again, it’s a big-bucks battle without good guys and bad guys as far as the taxpayer is concerned. At the same time, the sheer proliferation of booze outlets is a concern; and it’s one that would better occupy the legislature’s time than the poorly thought out bills that emerged in 2010.

source: http://www.indystar.com

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Scots are drinking themselves into early grave

Scots are drinking themselves to death faster than Ever as the nation’s disturbing booze-binge culture starts to take its toll among thirtysomethings. Hospitals are now being swamped with more than 100 patients needing treatment for alcohol-related conditions Every Day, the frightening new NHS figures show. Liver disease has trebled in the past 15 years. But….

A Look at the Types of Therapy Offered in Drug Treatment Centers

Licensed counselors and therapists work on both an individual and group basis with patients in drug treatment centers. Various types of therapy are offered to help the recovering addiction heal physically, socially, psychologically and emotionally from their addiction and from their past. Although not all types of therapy are effective for every addict and not….

3 Most Common Questions about Drug Treatment Centers

When you or a loved one needs drug treatment tons of questions go through your head. What will the drug treatment be like? Will it work for me or my loved one? How long with drug treatment take? Are drug treatment centers safe? The list of questions you likely have can go on and on….

Daily aspirin use may cut risk of common breast cancer

Taking aspirin daily may reduce a woman’s risk of developing a common type of breast cancer, say American researchers. The team, led by Gretchen Gierach, found that intake of aspirin was linked to a small reduction in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers. The discovery is important as around 75 per cent of cancers are oestrogen….

Hope, help available for abusers of alcohol

All Edward Davilla Jr. wants for Christmas is to remain sober. “I want my kids’ mother to be able to tell them something nice about me,” Davilla said. “I want them to be able to trust their dad.” It’s been 17 months since Davilla took a swig of alcohol. He’s managed to stay off the….