Increasing Alcohol Taxes

Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use: Increasing Alcohol Taxes
Alcohol excise taxes affect the price of alcohol, and are intended to reduce alcohol-related harms, raise revenue, or both. Alcohol taxes are implemented at the state and federal level, and are beverage-specific (i.e., they differ for beer, wine and spirits). These taxes are usually based on the amount of beverage purchased (not on the sales price), so their effects can erode over time due to inflation if they are not adjusted regularly.

Task Force Recommendations & Findings
The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends increasing the unit price of alcohol by raising taxes based on strong evidence of effectiveness for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. Public health effects are expected to be proportional to the size of the tax increase.

Task Force findings

Results from the Systematic Reviews
Seventy-three studies qualified for the review.

The studies looked at the relationship between either tax rates or total price on measures related to excessive alcohol consumption or its related harms.
The effects of prices on consumption or other outcomes are often expressed as “elasticities,” that are defined as the expected percentage change in the outcome when the price increases by 1%. For example, an alcohol price elasticity of -0.50 would mean that the outcome of interest (e.g., alcohol consumption) would be expected to decrease by 5% for every 10% increase in price.
Alcohol price and per capita consumption

Price elasticity of alcohol consumption (i.e., the expected percentage change in alcohol consumption when the price increases by 1%)
Beer consumption: -0.50 (interquartile interval: -0.91 to -0.36; 18 studies)
Wine consumption: -0.64 (interquartile interval: -1.03 to -0.38; 22 studies)
Spirits consumption: -0.79 (interquartile interval: -0.90 to -0.24; 21 studies)
Total alcohol (ethanol) consumption: -0.77 (interquartile interval: -2.00 to -0.50; 11 studies)
Price and consumption by high school or college age youth
Six studies found consistent evidence that higher alcohol prices were associated with less youth drinking; 3 studies found mixed results (9 studies).
Alcohol price and alcohol-related harms

Higher alcohol prices or taxes were consistently related to:
Fewer motor vehicle crashes and fatalities (10 of 11 studies)
Less alcohol-impaired driving (3 of 3 studies)
Less mortality from liver cirrhosis (5 of 5 studies)
Less all-cause mortality (1 study)
Effects also were demonstrated for measures of violence (3 studies), sexually transmitted diseases (1 study), and alcohol dependence (1 study).

http://http//www.thecommunityguide.org/alcohol/increasingtaxes.html

Text4baby

Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth.

Announcing the Top 10 Ideas for Change in America

Hey Changemakers,

After the submission of 2505 ideas and 209,950 votes, we're happy to announce the 10 winners of the Ideas for Change in America competition.

The winning ideas illustrate that the issues important to people across the country are much broader than those few that consistently dominate debate in Washington. Because they challenge the status quo, these ideas will face resistance from many in power. This is why citizen-driven initiatives like Ideas for Change are so important; by connecting more than one hundred thousand people from all 50 states around ideas that do not always gain national attention, we're taking an important step toward building a powerful movement for change on these issues. And we've only just begun.

Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Ideas for Change in America:

Legalize the Medicinal and Recreational Use of Marijuana by Spencer Pearson and Larry Talley. Spencer is a sophomore at the University of Missouri where he's focusing his studies on the impact of drugs and drug policies on society, having been inspired by the positive impact of medical marijuana on the health a family member. Larry, a retired member of the US Navy from Flower Mound, TX with over 20 years of service, spent much of his military career working to eradicate drugs both domestically and in South America. But, after observing the futility of his efforts and the violence endemic to the black market drug trade, he became an active member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

Move to Amend: Constitutional Rights for People, Not for Corporations - Abolish Corporate Personhood by Move to Amend, a grassroots coalition in Madison, WI fighting to end the legal doctrines that advantage corporations over the American people in the electoral process, including most recently the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. "Every day America knows that a deep injury has been done to our democracy, and that only constitutional reform can repair the damage," said Ben Manski, executive director of the Liberty Tree Foundation, and a spokesperson for Move to Amend.

Increase Federal Good Time Allowances by FedCURE of Plantation, FL, who are working to pass legislation that would return the US Federal prison system to an earlier system of good time allowances that would not only create more humane conditions for those who are incarcerated, but also relieve American taxpayers of the tax burden of unnecessarily long prison sentences. A mere 10 percent reduction of prison populations through good time allowances would save the US taxpayers a minimum of $1.2 billion.

Send the Tobacco Treaty to the Senate for Ratification by LIVESTRONG, an Austin, TX based organization founded by Lance Armstrong, whose idea aims to reduce the millions of deaths each year around the world resulting from tobacco. "Cancer became the leading cause of death worldwide this year; at LIVESTRONG we are calling for transformational results rather than simply incremental ones," said Doug Ulman, President and CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Create 1.5 Million American Jobs by Fixing Our Crumbling Schools by USAction of Washington, DC, whose idea hopes to solve the dual problems of unemployment in the construction industry and poor conditions in our schools. According to USAction, if we invest $180 billion in our schools over the next few years - a fraction of the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - we can put 1.5 million Americans back to work and improve education for every public school student in America.

No Farm No Food: Save the Land that Sustains Us by American Farmland Trust from Washington, DC, whose idea focuses on America's quickly disappearing farmland. Every minute of every day, we lose two acres of agricultural land to development. AFT's idea seeks to protect farmland in order to strengthen the national economy and world food security, protect the environment, bring fiscal stability to local governments and provide fresh, healthy food for all Americans.

Good Food For All Kids: A Garden at Every School by Ethan Genauer who worked with sustainable community farms and led activities to increase youth engagement with sustainable food systems in New Mexico before moving to DC in 2009. Today, he is a volunteer with Washington Youth Garden, helping to bring garden science into DC classrooms. His work with third grade students in DC is what first inspired his national call for Universal School Gardens.

End Chimpanzee Experiments, Pass the Great Ape Protection Act by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a Washington, DC based organization that aims to phase out the use of chimpanzees in research. "People may be shocked to learn that laboratories in the United States are permitted to keep chimpanzees in cages about the size of a kitchen table, sometimes for decades," says PCRM primatologist Debra Durham, Ph.D. "It's time for us to join the growing list of countries that ban invasive experiments on these amazing animals."

Establish a U.S. Department of Peace-building by Ted Nunn, a peace activist from Columbia, Maryland, in partnership with the Peace Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for a culture of peace through civic engagement. Through their idea, Ted and the Peace Alliance seek to raise overall awareness around non-violent solutions to international and domestic conflicts in order to bring about a more stable and peaceful world and reaffirm our right to independence from violence.

25 Million+, It is Time to Care About Rare Disease by Catherine Calhoun from Saint Francisville, Louisiana, who was inspired to start advocating on behalf of those with rare diseases after attending a January 2010 conference at the National Institutes of Health hosted by the Office of Rare Disease Research. She has dedicated herself to fighting on behalf of the almost 30 million people in America who have such diseases, with the aim of encouraging knowledge sharing between doctors in hopes of finding cures.

Now that the voting has concluded, the hard work of real change begins. We will be presenting these ideas to relevant members of the Obama Administration and Congress, and subsequently helping to initiate national campaigns behind each winning idea.

For those of you whose favorite ideas aren't among the winners, we also want to send a message: we're here to help. One of the things we're dedicated to at Change.org is supporting grassroots campaigns for change regardless of their size. To enable this, we recently launched a powerful free petition tool that enables you to easily start online campaigns to pressure Congress, government agencies, local officials, or companies on any issue. You can find out more about how to start a petition on Change.org here: http://www.change.org/petition.

Thanks for being the most important part of Ideas for Change in America 2010. This initiative is successful because of people like you, and we hope to continue to have you as an active member of the Change.org community as we work together to transform these ideas, and others, into real change in the weeks and months ahead.

- The Change.org Team

Tell the media: It's time to talk about community prevention in health reform

When moms in Kern County, California wanted exercise, they formed the Greenfield Walking Group. But it wasn't easy. Aggressive stray dogs harassed them. They had to avoid stepping on hypodermic needles. And as they walked they were scared of being run down by motorists.

Without the prevention money that is in the health reform bill, people from communities like Kern County--people who want to be healthy and active--lose the resources to create community solutions that improve their health.

But no one in the media is talking about this important reason to rally behind the final push for health care reform--monies dedicated to Community Transformation Grants that fund local efforts to reduce chronic disease rates and increase health equity. We're asking our partners and advocates to help put community prevention center stage in the conversation, by contacting their newspapers. Will you take a moment to write a brief letter to the editor of your local paper?

We're sending you this email because you, as a current leader in community prevention, have expertise that matters to the media. Please take a moment to leverage that expertise and remind everyone how important community prevention is. Legislators look to letters to the editor to see where their community stands. Here's what theyneed to know:

· Americans value prevention and rank prevention as a high priority in health reform, according to a recent survey. In fact, 72% want more prevention in health care even if it costs money.

· 75 percent of current health care costs are the result of chronic diseases, many of which could have been prevented.

· Comprehensive health reform will not only increase health care access and quality but also keep people from getting sick and injured in the first place. The bill's substantial investment in community prevention will save lives and money.

Will you share this message with your local paper? We've made it easy for you, providing your local media email addresses, talking points and a submission form. All you have to do is make the case, in 180 words or less, of why we all win when community prevention gets written into policy, and then click submit.

Thanks to coordinated work with their local health department and political leaders, the Greenfield Walking Group has gotten broken lights replaced, graffiti and dogs removed. Police surveillance and maintenance efforts have increased. And moms are walking with their families and babies. We want all communities to have support to make their communities healthier and safer. Please take a few minutes to help make that happen.

Thank you,

Prevention Institute

Girls on The Run

Girls on the Run® gets up and running at Grand Canyon School this spring



Girls in rural area learn new skills and discover hidden talents and interests

Among the over 80 girls participating in the spring season of Girls on the Run® are a special bunch from Grand Canyon. When Kelley Ingols, the health and wellness teacher at the only school in the Grand Canyon area, contacted Girls on the Run® about offering a spring program we were thrilled. Within a few short months Kelley and her co-coach Karen Cain recruited their team, completed their coaches' training, and sought funding from the Grand Canyon Community Recreation Center to provide scholarships for over half of their team members. Now they are actively recruiting 5K Running Buddies for their team. We think Grand Canyon is a excellent example of what can happen when members of small community work together to offer a big opportunity for their girls.

Coach Karen Cain has this perspective on Girls on the Run® at Grand Canyon:

I was inspired to be involved with GOTR because I love how it aims to teach young girls to be comfortable in their own skin and appreciate themselves for who they are. I have experienced this myself and seen many young girls feel pressured to become who they think they are expected to be and not truly appreciate their own unique gifts. Peer pressure, media pressure and parental pressure can be so influential (positively and/or negatively) in young girls trying to 'find their place'. GOTR presents girls with tools to help overcome some of these pressures and discover their true selves.This is the first thing I really liked about GOTR and I wanted to become involved. Since becoming involved, I have discovered so many other positive aspects of the program! As a coach, I have enjoyed building relationships with these young girls. They are a great group of energetic, excited, funny girls and we are having a LOT of fun! We live in a unique community here in Grand Canyon, where extracurricular activities are somewhat limited. GOTR gives these young girls an opportunity to create positive relationships with other teammates and coaches. It also provides an opportunity for girls to learn new skills and discover their own possible hidden talents and interests.

See Kelley in our Spring Season YouTube video!



Be a Running Buddy for a girl during the New Balance GOTR 5K this spring

Make a difference in a girl's life by helping her reach a running goal




Every girl finishing the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Buffalo Park will be accompanied by a Running Buddy or family member as she reaches her goal of completing the event. Running Buddies are women from the community who volunteer to run, walk, skip, hop, or dance their way to the 5K finish line with a "girl on the run." A Running Buddy serves as a positive female role model, while supporting and encouraging a girl to complete the untimed, noncompetitive event at her own pace.

Are you a woman over 18 who wants to positively impact a girl's life as a Running Buddy?Just submit the volunteer application available on our website by March 28 and register for the 5K. Running Buddies attend an orientation on March 30, a practice 5K session in early April, and then join their girls for the 5K on May 1. Questions? Contact Stephanie at stephanie@gotrcoconino.org.

· Click here to download a Running Buddy application!
· Click here to register for the spring 5K!


Olympian, American record holder Jenny Barringer to support GOTR

Newest member of Team New Balance says GOTR major factor in her decision

New Balance recently announced that Jenny will be the newest member of Team New Balance. As part of this relationship, she will join New Balance in its support of Girls on the Run®. At the New Balance games on January 22nd Jenny exclaimed, "I'm thrilled to join the New Balance family and am eager to represent a brand that I find both inspiring and authentic...I'm particularly excited to work with the Girls on the Run® organization, encouraging young girls to respect themselves and develop a healthy lifestyle through running." A special thanks goes out to Girls on the Run Manhattan for their hard work organizing a team of girls to join Jenny on the track for the event!

Jenny holds the American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, and is a seven-time All-American and 12-time All-Big 12 honoree. Jenny also won four NCAA titles and two national steeplechase titles.

· Read more about Jenny, New Balance, and GOTR!



Bring Girls on the Run® to girls in your community for the Fall 2010 season

Coconino, Apache, Navajo, and Yavapai County schools may now apply to participate in season

Girls on the Run® will begin accepting site applications for the Fall 2010 season after March 23. All schools, community centers, youth centers, and other organizations in Coconino, Apache, Navajo and Yavapai Counties may now apply to host Girls on the Run® through our council. For more information about becoming a program site and to request an application, please contact Stephanie Ludwig at stephanie@gotrcoconino.org. All applications will be due by April 30 and new sites will be confirmed by May 5. The Fall season will begin September 7 and conclude November 24. The New Balance GOTR 5K will be held on November 20 in Flagstaff.

Girls on the Run® Gratitude Corner

Helpful Tips for "greener" times

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/

Recycling Center tours, first Friday of every month. Free!

First Friday Recycle Center Tour
What can I recycle? How much do we recycle? How does it work? What happens with the various items collected? What are the benefits to recycling? For answers to these questions and more take a guided tour of the City of Flagstaff’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Tours are offered on the first Friday of every month at 3:00 p.m. No registration is required. The MRF is located at 1800 E. Butler Ave. Group tours are offered Monday – Friday during MRF hours, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with the exception of Holidays. To schedule a group tour contact the Environmental Program Assistant, 213-3604. For School Group tours contact Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, 779-1745.

Girls On the Run! Please check out event this Saturday, March 6th.

http://www.gotrcoconino.org/index.html

Girls on the Run is a life-changing character development program that inspires 3rd-8th grade girls to stay true to themselves and live free from societal stereotypes. Our 12-week after school curriculum innovatively weaves preparing for the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K, a community impact project, and fun, interactive lessons that empower girls to:
Celebrate their bodies
Honor their voices
Recognize their gifts, and
Activate their inner power.
Our goal is to provide an environment where girls begin to reach their full physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual potential by learning to live outside the "Girl Box," a place where a girl's worth is based upon her appearance or popularity rather than her character. Our objective is to prevent the display of at-risk behaviors including alcohol and substance use, eating disorders, early onset of sexual activity, sedentary lifestyle, depression, suicide attempts, and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
Girls on the Run of Coconino County is an independent council of Girls on the Run International, founded in 1996 by Molly Barker. Today, over 150 councils across the United States and Canada transform the lives of more than 60,000 girls annually.
The effectiveness of our programs depend upon active collaboration between girls and their families, program sites, volunteers, staff, and the community. We are funded entirely by fees, donations, sponsorships and grants and rely on the generosity of local individuals, businesses, and organizations to fulfill our mission.
Watch our video to learn more about Girls on the Run!
Congratulations Flagstaff Girl on the Run, Josie Leibfried, winner in the Secret "How Girls on the Run Makes Me Fearless" national essay contest. Read Josie's winning essay here!
CURRENT NEWS
Don't miss the 2nd Annual LUNAFEST Flagstaff on March 6!Lunafest is the only film festival in the United States that combines award winning films by women film makers with a community fundraising campaign to raise awareness and contributions for the Breast Cancer Fund and hundreds of grass-roots, community-based organizations throughout the country.LUNAFEST Flagstaff is brought to us by Stroller Strides Flagstaff and will benefit Girls on the Run locally. The festival will be held at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff on March 6, 2010. Approximately 10 short films by, for, and about women will be featured at the 2:00 pm matinee. The evening event begins at 6:00 pm and will include the films, a mix of yummy appetizers and desserts from local restaurants, a silent auction, live music, and Girls on the Run executive director Stephanie Ludwig and NAU film and visual culture professor Janna Jones as guest speakers.Tickets for the evening event at 6:00 pm are $10 or $8 for students with ID. Matinee tickets are $5.00. Click here to purchase tickets online in advance and see the trailer. Please join us for this wonderful cultural event to benefit girls and women locally and nationally!