Media Advisory
April 26, 2012
Contact: Michael Scippa 415-548-0492
Tiffany Tan 415 690-3628
Alcopop-Free Zone Marin Kicks Off
Youth Ask Canal Area Retailer
to Stop Selling Flavored Malt Beverages
SAN RAFAEL, CA (April 26, 2012) – Youth, adults, and community organizations from across Marin County who have banded together to create an
Alcopop-Free Zoneä Marin will rally in the Canal area of San Rafael to encourage
More for Less and other local alcohol retailers to voluntarily stop selling youth-attractive flavored malt beverages known as alcopops.
What: Rally and Press Event
When: Friday, April 27, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Where: 141 Bellam Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901
Who: Representatives from:
- Alcohol Justice
- Being Adept
- Families for Safer Schools
- Marin County Dept. of Health & Human Services Prevention Hub
- Marin County Pharmacists Association
- Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth
- Pharmacist Planning Service, Inc.
- Santa Margarita Neighborhood Association
- Twin Cities Coalition for Healthy Youth
- YMCA
- Youth Leadership Institute
- Youth for Justice
Why: Youth-attractive alcopops, or flavored malt beverages (FMBs):
- Are pre-mixed, sweetened alcoholic drinks that taste like juice and soda
- Are packaged in brightly-colored cans, similar to energy drinks
- Are priced low enough to effectively target underage drinkers, especially young women
- Can be shelved wherever beer is available - including convenience stores, gas stations, and mini-marts
- In supersized 24 oz. single-serving containers with 12 percent alcohol are the equivalent of 4-5 beers and cannot be consumed responsibly by any age drinker
- Encourage underage consumption which leads to serious alcohol-related harm
The community will celebrate and promote retailers who comply as responsible, family-friendly, alcopop-free stores. Media Availability: For more info, interviews with Alcohol Justice staff and Youth for Justice members, please contact Michael Scippa – (415) 548-0492.
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