But we should speak loudly and clearly that cutting the cost of hard liquor in order to boost state revenue would be foolish and counterproductive. Gary Reid, director of the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, told a state legislative committee Wednesday that reducing the price of alcoholic beverages would benefit consumers and […]
alcohol
Posted inLocal & State
Plan for liquor contract could increase Maine’s cash flow by $41 million
In an informal briefing before a state legislative committee, Gerry Reid said increased cash flow to the state’s coffers would come from ending a contract the state awarded in 2003 allowing a private company exclusive rights to import and distribute hard liquor in Maine. That contract, which expires in 2014 and is expected to be renegotiated […]
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Posted inOur View
Drugs driving crime rates up in Maine
Crime in Maine is up. So is the cost of fighting crime as Maine grapples with technology-savvy crooks and increased investigative costs, according to Public Safety Commissioner John Morris. The Department of Public Safety released 2011 crime statistics on Tuesday, reporting a 5.4 percent increase in crime compared to 2010. That’s the biggest single-year jump […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Union mother arrested for coming to school drunk, police say
UNION, Maine — A 32-year-old woman was arrested Friday after she arrived at her child’s elementary school while under the influence of alcohol, according to state police. Jennifer Marriner was arrested for operating under the influence after she drove to the Union Elementary School to pick up her child. Sgt. Patrick Hood said that when […]
Posted inConnections
Freshmen learn about ‘A Road Back’
RUMFORD — The message to Mountain Valley High School freshmen at an assembly was “The right decisions don’t always happen the first time, but there is always a road back to right.” This is the theme of a school-wide drug and alcohol program known as A Road Back. Kristen Provencher, health teacher, kicked off the […]
Posted inOxford Hills
Two teens killed in West Paris crash
WEST PARIS, Maine — Two local teenagers are dead and two others are in the hospital after an early Saturday morning accident caused by drinking and text messaging while driving, Maine State Police Trooper Tom Welch said. “Alcohol and distracted driving are the primary causation factors,” the trooper said. State police got the call for […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Jay woman charged in underage-drinking case
JAY — Police arrested a local woman Friday on charges of furnishing a place for minors to drink liquor and furnishing liquor to a minor. Amanda L. Fetteroff, 24, of Jay, was also issued a summons on a charge of refusing to sign a uniform summons or complaint, police Chief Larry White Sr. said Monday. […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Light drinking linked to slight breast cancer risk
CHICAGO (AP) — Whether sipping beer, wine or whiskey, women who drink just three alcoholic beverages a week face slightly higher chances for developing breast cancer compared with teetotalers, a study of more than 100,000 U.S. nurses found. The link between alcohol and breast cancer isn’t new, but most previous studies found no increased risk […]
Posted inUncategorized
Talking to kids about alcohol
One of the most important discussions parents can have with their children is a discussion about alcohol. Parents are often wary of such a discussion, fearing if they come on too strongly when discussing the dangers of alcohol that their children might be too curious about alcohol to avoid it. As difficult a discussion as […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Portland seeks end to all-ages nights at bars
PORTLAND — Public hearings on two bills regulating bar operations will take place on Wednesday in Augusta. One bill would ban all-ages nights at bars and another would prohibit bar owners from discounting drinks. The bills, LD 901 and 902, respectively, are sponsored by Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland. Russell said she has not taken a […]