Tuesday, May 1, 2012

I-1183 info sheet.


Summary: 
Initiative 1183 goes into effect on June 1, 2012. Many people in Pullman as well as across the state have fears as to what the new initiative could bring to a college town already stereotypically famous for alcohol consumption.  This fear along with the anger for those who will soon be out of a job has caused a wake of controversy with I-1183.

Outline:
I.                What happened?
·        Attended the panel discussion in the CUB on April 17, 2012.
·      Interviewed two students. One prospective and one a Washington resident attending U of I.
·       Prospective student Golden does not know much concerning the initiative but also does not think it is a big deal.
·       Toursal a U of I student thinks the first year will be dangerous.
·       State run liquor stores face many problems including loss of employment for long time workers.
·       Pullman residents and emergency workers fear a rise in crime rate and alcohol poisoning.

II.                Why
·      There is a lot of confusion surrounding I-1183 and many people are not sure what to believe.
·      Some fear that with greater access and less regulation underage people will have more alcohol availability.

III.             What Else?
·       Tried to interview Pullman Liquor and Wine store employees, but comment was declined.

IV.              Finish
·       For now the fate of I-1183 and Pullman will be determined one it is enacted.

 Sources: (face to face interviews)
1.        Krystal Golden
Cell: (224) 459-9942
Email: ahobbitstale@aol.com

2.        Carrie Toursal
SS     Spanish- U of I
Email: ctoursal@aol.com

Other resources. (non 1:1)

1.     Washington State University communication faculty representing the Murrow Center for Media and Health Promotion host Panel discussion on I-1183.
Tuesday April 17, 2012

Informational resources

·      http://liq.wa.gov/publications/FinalEnglishMastHandbook.pdf

·      http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/02/initiative-1183-on-privatizing-alcohol-debated/

·      http://wasavp.org/Documents/UK%20summary%20for%20Washington.pdf

·      http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/notes/citizens-guide-initiative-1183-end-washingtons-liquor-store-monopoly

·      http://www.keprtv.com/politics/local/State-workers-leaving-liquor-stores-before-handoff-147607825.html

·      http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/PreviousElections/2011/general/Documents/1183%20Full%20Text%20for%20VP.pdf


Trepidation for I-1183





On April 20, 2012, Washington state sold 167 liquor stores for $30.75 million.  
This is the first large step towards the implementation of Initiative1183. Washington state voters passed I-1183 last November with a 60 percent yes vote. The new law privatizes liquor sales in the state of Washington and adds the state to 42 other states with privatized liquor sales.
This move has some Pullman community members worried.
Pullman is a college town with a reputation for drinking. On Tuesday, April 17 in the Compton Union Building, a panel discussed the possible implications of the changed laws for Pullman students and the general public. Consumption of alcohol in Pullman is expected to increase 44 percent according to the panel members who cite a survey done by the Pullman community preventative task force.
Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins is a member of the panel. Jenkins discussed his concerns relating to the possible rise in alcohol-fueled criminal activity both on the Washington State University campus and in the Pullman community. Regular compliance checks will be performed on businesses selling alcohol. However, Jenkins is concerned with the extra strain that may be placed on local law enforcement.
Interfraternity Council President, John McMullan, also a member of the panel, agreed with Jenkins’ concerns regarding potential over-consumption. Greek-life students represent 20 percent of the Washington State University population. The fraternity and sorority members are given ample training and education each year on the dangers of alcohol. In the fall 2012 training will be increased as a preemptive strike on possible problems concerning alcohol accessibility.
The concerns of the Pullman community are not just with the issue of over-consumption but also with the possible statewide effects.
 “We will become the most deregulated state in the nation as of June 1.” said panel member Mary Segawa. Segawa is the Alcohol Awareness Program Manager for the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
However, Jason Mercier, Director of WPC's Center for Government Reform shared a different view on the deregulation.
If I-1183 is enacted, Washington would still rank among the top five states for restrictive access to liquor sales, moving from second to fifth most restrictive, and would be the most restrictive non-monopoly-control state in the West.” Mercier said in an article on Washingtonpolicy.org.
With a number of conflicting reports available many people are easily confused by I-1183. Krystal Golden, a visiting student from Oak Harbor, Wash. is uncertain as to what to think about I-1183.
“I don’t really know a lot about it besides what I hear from other people. The news has never really gone in-depth on the issue, but I have been to other states with similar laws and they don’t seem to have any more or any less of a problem.” Golden said.
Golden, who is 21, says as someone who only drinks socially, she will not change her drinking habits with the new law.

New rules aimed at alcohol regulation for I-1183 say alcohol can only be sold in stores larger than 10,000-square-feet. Pullman Liquor and Wine, at 4,416-square-feet, is in an exception to this rule. The exception applies to all other purchased liquor stores in the state that are less than the required square footage. The state of Washington also licenses 163 contract liquor stores. These stores belong to small business owners and will be grandfathered in under the new policies.
According to the complete document of I-1183 Section 101 part 2, bullet l, institutions found selling to patrons below the age of 21 will face fines double their current standing.
Carrie Toursal, a junior Spanish major at the University of Idaho, does not think the new rules set in place to control liquor sales will be effective in university towns such as Pullman.
“My younger friends in Pullman have never really had a hard time getting hold of alcohol if they know who to ask. I think this is going to cause a lot of problems because now instead of providers grabbing an 18-pack at Walmart they can get a fifth.” Toursal said.
A great deal of controversy is also being generated in Pullman as well as statewide, over the loss of an estimated 900 jobs. Many state employees will be without work, when on May 31, the state-run liquor stores close their doors for the final time.      
Pullman liquor store employees asked about the initiative and its consequences for them declined comment. Nonetheless, liquor store employees across the state have already begun to leave before the May 31 shutdown. It is estimated between Jan. 1 and mid-March of 2012 about 75 Washington State Liquor Control Board employees left the organization.
Eric Busch of Richland won a bid of $175,100 for the Pullman Liquor and Wine store. There is no word yet on whether Busch will keep the stores’ current employees.
I-1183 will take effect in one month, on June 1, 2012. For more information on I-1183, including the full initiative text, please visit the Washington State Liquor Control Board website at, www.liq.wa.gov.