San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition to Hold Town Hall Meeting

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Nov 07, 2013, 07:59 ET

Will Make a Call to Action to Stop Underage Consumption of Alcopops in the Canal Neighborhood

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Drug Free Community-funded San Rafael Alcohol and Drugs Coalition, along with youth, adults, and community organizations from across Marin County who have banded together to create an Alcopop-Free Zone® in the Canal area of San Rafael, will hold a town hall meeting this Saturday. The public is invited to attend and learn how to better address underage alcohol consumption. They will also learn to encourage greater community cooperation by asking local retailers to voluntarily stop selling dangerous youth-attractive flavored malt beverages (FMBs) known as alcopops, and celebrate and promote retailers who comply as responsible, family-friendly, alcopop-free stores.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110727/DC41105LOGO)

What: Town Hall Meeting

When: Saturday, November 9, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Pickleweed Community Center, 50 Canal St. San Rafael California 94901

Who: Representatives from:

Alcohol Justice
Alcopop-Free Zone® Marin Coalition
Bay Area Community Resources
Canal Welcome Center
Canal Community Businesses, Parents & Residents
First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael
La Plaza Market
Marin County Probation Department
Marin County Health and Human Services
San Rafael Police Department
San Rafael City Schools
The Recovery Station TV Series
University of San Francisco School of Nursing
Youth for Justice
YMCA

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 and gas stations
In supersized 24 oz. single-serving containers with 12 percent alcohol are the equivalent of 4-5 beers
Encourage underage consumption and binge drinking which leads to serious alcohol-related harm

For Additional Information: www.AlcopopFreeZone.us

CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336

SOURCE Alcohol Justice