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4/5/2023 Enrollment open for year-long peer leadership program to prevent youth substance abuseRead Now Augusta Free Press, Rebecca Barnabi
Enrollment is open for a peer leadership opportunity that fosters healthy communities and the prevention of substance abuse. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s (ABC) Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project is an annual program that begins with a kick-off conference July 17 to 21 at Longwood University in Farmville. Registration of a team of four high school student participants and one adult sponsor is required. “Peer-led substance use prevention is a proven effective path for young leaders to take a stand to create positive change and promote healthy behaviors among youth in the Commonwealth,” Virginia ABC Director of Education and Prevention Katie Crumble said. “Given the upheaval of the past few years and its impact on our youth, the program offers timely tools created specifically to help students navigate pressures and enable them to make smart choices.” Students attend topical workshops facilitated by peer leaders, hear from well-known motivational speakers, learn peer leadership and prevention best practices and develop a Strategies To Act Now (STAN) Plan to address substance abuse among peers. Teams compete for $250 mini-grants to use seed money toward their STAN Plan and the $500 Wheeler Award to sustain continued prevention efforts. The discounted enrollment rate of $500 per team is good through April 30, afterward the price increases to $600 per team until the June 1 enrollment deadline. The fee includes conference materials, lodging, meals and year-long coaching and support for adult sponsors as they aid their team in implementing its STAN Plan throughout the school year. In the opening conference, adult sponsors participate in their own track, receive resources and training on topics that will help them support their team, and are eligible for continuing education units and professional development hours. Law enforcement officers are eligible for partial in-service credits through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. While working on their prevention plans, students can expand their experience as peer leaders by applying for YADAPP youth staff positions and progressing through four levels of leadership with increasing responsibilities. Each level starts with the youth leader role acting as a guide for conference participants, and build to the top level of serving as conference interns. YADAPP interns are college students who spend 10 months planning aspects of the program including curriculum development and youth staff training. The program began in 1984, and approximately 450 different high schools and community organizations and more than 12,000 students have participated in YADAPP. 3/24/2023 GOVERNMENT + POLITICSInternal ABC emails show counter-service store conversions may be less certain than indicatedRead Now The Virginia Mercury
BY: MEGHAN MCINTYRE - MARCH 24, 2023 12:04 AM The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority told the Mercury last December it has plans to modernize all of its stores, including converting its three remaining counter-service locations – stores where all products are kept behind a counter shielded with a protective barrier – to standard self-service ones. But internal emails from the authority recently obtained by the Mercury through a Freedom of Information Act request paint a more uncertain future for the counter stores, with one high-level official saying there is no conversion plan. The day the story ran on Dec. 19, Susan Johnson, ABC director of real estate and facilities management, emailed Chief Retail Operations Officer Mark Dunham and Chief Executive Officer Travis Hill, saying she was “very confused” with the story on the modernization plan. “I don’t have a plan for converting counter stores to self-service,” she wrote. Two weeks later, on Jan. 2, ABC public relations specialist Valerie Hubbard emailed Johnson to ask: “If we get calls from media on plans to change our counter service stores to self-service, should we say that we are in the planning process to make that happen?” Johnson replies: “No, I wouldn’t say that, as I don’t know that we will be changing those stores to self-service.” Dunham and Hill, Johnson’s superiors, denied the Mercury’s requests to speak with her for this story. Asked about the discrepancy between its earlier communications with the Mercury and internal emails, ABC Chief Digital and Branding Officer Vida Williams reiterated that the counter stores will be converted regardless of what Johnson said. The authority’s new executive leadership team, she emphasized, is still “working on alignment” with the full organization and “any type of internal plan comes with discourse.” “Guess who’s director of communications and chief of communications? Me. She’s the chief of retail, so her message does not trump my message,” Williams said. “Susan saying yes or no is immaterial to the fact that it is happening.” In the same interview, Dunham said: “Was her answer incorrect? It was, ‘We haven’t built the plan yet.’ The plan is in development, it’s not fully stated.” Williams said the decision to transition the counter stores and modernize the authority’s locations happened “way before” the Mercury asked about it in December. However, despite requests, the authority has not provided the Mercury with any documentation – including a budget, timeline or planning documents – related to its modernization plan. “I don’t have anything in my hands that says, ‘This is the modernization plan,’” Hill said this week. “I know that there are continuing conversations within the organization to say what it will consist of, what we are going to focus on, what are the aspects of each store that we’re going to focus on.” Dunham said the modernization of 399 ABC stores across Virginia can’t be done “overnight and has been in the planning stages since [ABC] built the distribution center.” ABC’s most recent 315,000 square foot distribution center in Mechanicsville opened in February 2021, along with the authority’s new headquarters, which Williams said houses a “store of tomorrow”’ where new concepts can be tested for modernizing stores. ‘The simple truth’On Dec. 2, Pat Kane, an ABC public relations specialist, emailed the Mercury’s initial inquiry about how the authority determines which locations are served by counter stores to Dunham, Johnson and Jennifer Burke, director of retail operations. Dawn Eischen, a former ABC public relations specialist, and Cortley West, the authority’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion, were copied on the email. Kane prefaced his forward with the comment: “I think the reporter is looking into the equity angle of who gets ‘nice’ stores in their neighborhood.” The same day, Johnson replied: “The three that are still ‘conventional’ or ‘counter’ stores have not been converted to self service because of higher crime in those areas and the safety of our employees.” Located in Petersburg and Richmond, the three counter stores — 118, 187 and 251 — were opened prior to 1995 and reside in primarily Black neighborhoods, according to U.S. Census data. Later that day, Kane circulated to colleagues a draft response that included the lines: “Virginia ABC has a responsibility to our employees and our customers to provide a safe environment in and around every one of our stores. (open to suggestions to tweak this).” Following Kane’s reply, Burke wrote: “This is perfect to me, it is the simple truth.” Johnson wrote “Agreed” next to Burke’s response. On Dec. 5, Williams sent these statements to Dunham and Elizabeth Chu, ABC chief transformation officer, adding, “Are we okay with the implication of this simple truth? Do we have crime statistics to provide context to unsafe?” Chu replied: “I’m uncomfortable with this statement. It implies that the counter stores are in place because of higher crime. … Can we instead respond by giving a history of these counter stores (installed prior to 1995) and we are looking at an overall strategy to convert them while we look at what the ‘store of the future’ is.” Dunham replied: “I was in the process of typing a similar response, concern the response opens up to inquiry. I would not focus on the store of the future as much as we look at renovations/ modernizing stores.” In a Dec. 7 interview with Williams and Kane, Williams did not mention anything to the Mercury about the authority’s responsibility “to provide a safe environment” in relation to why some locations have counter stores. When later asked about the “simple truth” explanation put forward in internal communications, Williams said the agency’s response to the Mercury that focused on modernization “had to do with how it loops through.” “It goes to [media relations specialist] Pat [Kane], Pat brings it to the people, ‘Hey we have this inquiry, you have subject matter expertise on this,’” Williams said. “Once that is done, it is brought to those who set strategic direction. When that came to strategic direction, we were like, ‘Absolutely not, that is not what we’re doing.’” On Dec. 15, in a thread about agency communications with the Mercury, Burke emailed Kane, Williams, Eischen and ABC regional manager Ramon Santiago, saying, “Let’s stay as close to the vest as possible while assuring we promote our position as public servants and the benefits we provide to the commonwealth.” “Be careful not to walk into any conversations regarding why counter stores may exist in some areas and not others as we simply have not done renovations at this time and in some instances the communities have requested the counter store layouts as well. (for our internal knowledge),” she continued. When asked why the initial response from ABC on Dec. 2 didn’t include mentions of converting the counter stores if the modernization plans were made “way before” that date, Hill said the email exchanges show, “people sharing their perspective, and the course of developing a response and a modernization plan is around incorporating those perspectives and saying, ‘What is it that the organization is going to be focused on going forward?’” Asked twice to confirm whether the counter stores will be converted to self-service, Hill responded, “That will be part of our modernization effort” and, “Again, we’re going to modernize the fleet.” Hill, Williams and Dunham all reiterated that every ABC store will be modernized in the future, but the plan won’t come to fruition immediately because it’s in the beginning stages. “Give it time. Either your story will age well or my story will age well because it all has to be acted upon,” said Williams. “It’s not like we’re talking conceptually, we’re saying the stores are going to synergize.” Forbes.Com
Joseph V Micallef, Contributor, December 9, 2022 It’s the holiday season! A time when many individuals and organizations entertain friends, family, employees, and customers. December typically represents the peak month of alcoholic beverage consumption in the US. Given the wide diversity of alcoholic beverages, from low-alcohol seltzers and “alcopops” to beers, wines, and RTDs to overproof spirits, it’s not always apparent exactly how much alcohol, what in industry parlance is called “standard drink equivalence,” you are consuming. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has launched a new public education campaign, the ABCs of ABVs, to promote a broader understanding of standard drink equivalence. Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RDN, LD, a nutrition expert and former director of nutrition at WebMD, is serving as spokesperson for the campaign. Recently, I spoke with Kathleen to find out more. JM: Why is the Distilled Spirits Council launching this campaign now? KZ: With the holidays in full swing, it’s time to celebrate with family, friends and coworkers. For many adults, that means toasting the season with a glass of beer, wine, or a cocktail. Given the increased consumption of alcohol during this period, now is an ideal time to raise attention to the importance of drinking responsibly and practicing moderation. JM: Why focus on standard drink equivalence? KZ: Understanding standard drink equivalence is essential for drinking responsibly and practicing moderation when consuming beverage alcohol. But right now, the overwhelming majority of adult Americans don’t know what constitutes a standard drink. A national survey earlier this year found that nearly 9 out of 10 adults in the United States (88%) do not understand that a standard drink of beer or wine has the same amount of alcohol as a standard drink of distilled spirits – such as whisky, vodka or rum. This misunderstanding may lead people to incorrectly estimate how many standard drinks are in their beverage. For example, a single can of high-ABV craft beer or ready-to-drink beverage may be equivalent to more than one drink under the standard drink definition. JM: What exactly is the standard drink definition? KZ: It comes down to the “alcohol by volume” – or ABV – which is the amount of alcohol in a particular container of alcohol. A standard drink is 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (at 40% ABV), five fluid ounces of wine (at 12% ABV), 12 ounces of regular beer, or a ready-to-drink convenience cocktail (at 5% ABV). Each of these drinks has the same amount of alcohol in them – 0.6 fluid ounces of ethanol. And research has shown that the effects of ethanol on the body are the same, regardless of whether it is in beer, wine, or distilled spirits products. Governments (from local to federal), public health authorities, and health and traffic safety experts in the United States widely use this standard drink definition. JM: How should adults use this information to guide their consumption? KZ: The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans define moderate drinking as consuming up to one standard drink per day for women and up to two standard drinks per day for men for those who drink. That may be a lot less alcohol than people expect. Meanwhile, binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for women and five or more drinks on one occasion for men. JM: Where can consumers get more information on standard drink equivalence? KZ: The Distilled Spirits Council has a great website, StandardDrinks.org, which has more information on standard drink equivalence. Since alcoholic beverages come in various types and container sizes, the website includes a helpful, easy-to-use calculator that allows consumers to input the container size and the ABV of their beverage to see how it measures up to one standard drink. Of course, it’s unlikely that consumers will pull up this calculator in the middle of a party. Still, I would encourage drinkers to look up their typical or expected beverages in advance to be better informed before they drink. Notably, the website also notes that some adults should not consume any alcohol and recommends checking with your healthcare provider to discuss alcohol consumption. JM: As a nutrition expert, do you have any final words of wisdom for our readers? KZ: A beer, glass of wine, or cocktail can be part of an enjoyable and balanced lifestyle for most adults. But as Americans celebrate this holiday season, it’s important to remember that moderation is key for those who choose to drink. And it’s not what you drink; what counts is how much alcohol you drink. So always remember your ABCs of ABVs: “A”lcohol is alcohol, “B”e mindful of alcohol consumption, and “C”onsume in moderation. 12/8/2022 Virginia ABC Announces Dates for Its Alcohol Education and Prevention Grant ApplicationsRead Now News Release Contact:Virginia ABC Communications - (804) 213-4413
Email: pubrel@VirginiaABC.com In an effort to reduce underage and high-risk drinking, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) will open its grant application process for the 2023-2024 Alcohol Education and Prevention Grant program on Jan. 1, 2023. This is the eighth year Virginia ABC is offering grant funding to support the development of alcohol education and prevention programs across the commonwealth. Since 2013, Virginia ABC has awarded an average of $80,000 each year through its grant program to Virginia organizations working to prevent underage and high-risk drinking. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $10,000 each to support best-practice programs that have a long-lasting impact and encourage partnerships between organizations. Community coalitions, law enforcement, nonprofits, schools, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations and prevention-related groups are encouraged to apply. Proposed projects must address one or more of the following focus areas: • Underage drinking prevention • Social providing or social hosting prevention • High-risk drinking prevention “We strive to support communities around Virginia to help individuals make informed health and safety decisions to prevent alcohol misuse,” said Director of Virginia ABC Education and Prevention Katie Crumble. “We are inspired by the work of previous grantees and look forward to the innovative ideas this year’s applicants may propose to reach their communities.” Applications are available online, with a convenient online platform for submission. An application guide is provided to assist with completion and provide more information about the program. This grant application guide and the grant application are located on ABC’s website at www.abc.virginia.gov/education/grants. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2023. 10/27/2022 Beer is on pace to lose its leading share of the U.S. alcohol market as spirits surgeRead Now Source: https://www.cnbc.com/
October 27, 2022 KEY POINTS Beer sales are up, but it hasn't been enough to counter the explosive rise of the spirits category. Beer has been losing market share to spirits for the last 12 years in the U.S., according to a trade group. Spirits dominate the share on liquor delivery app Drizly, the company said. Beer is taking up less of the American booze market as beverage companies flood the market with buzzy new drink categories, including ready-to-drink cocktails. Even legacy beer companies have expanded outside of their staple beer products with innovations for spirits drinkers. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, has diversified its portfolio to include hard seltzers, canned wine and canned cocktails. Molson Coors dropped the "Brewing Co" from its name in 2019 to reflect a similar expansion into spirits. This week, Samuel Adams maker Boston Beer debuted Loma Vista Tequila Soda, a ready-to-drink tequila cocktail in both lime and mango flavors. The lineup is launching in a handful of markets, including Austin, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas; and Kansas City. Boston Beer said its tequila cocktails sit at the crux of "the explosive growth of the RTD beverage segment" and "the rise in popularity of tequila." DISCUS said the top five spirits by revenue growth in 2021 were vodka (4.9%), tequila/mezcal (30.1%), American whiskey (6.7%), Brandy & Cognac (13.1%) and cordials (15.2%). Last year was the 12th consecutive year spirits have taken away market share from beer in the total U.S. alcoholic beverage market, according to a report earlier this year from the Distilled Spirits Council, a national trade organization. The beer category, which includes hard seltzer, accounted for 42% of the U.S. beverage alcohol market in 2021, while spirits accounted for 41%, according to DISCUS. Wine accounted for 16%. At this trajectory, spirits are pegged to overtake beer in market share in the next few years, even though beer sales have grown. "Spirits consumers are willing to spend a little extra for a fine spirit because they are choosing to drink better, not more," DISCUS' top spokeswoman, Lisa Hawkins, told CNBC this week. The downward trend of beer market share has also been reflected on the online ordering and alcohol delivery platform Drizly. Over the past 12 months, beer has accounted for a 14% share, a two percentage point drop from the previous 12 months, according to Liz Paquette, head of consumer insights at Drizly. Spirits accounted for a 45% share, increasing by one percentage point. "The beer share decline in recent years on Drizly is mostly a result of share shift toward the spirit category, driven by the surge in categories, like tequila and ready-to-drink cocktails," said Paquette. Paquette added that beer actually accounts for 11% when hard seltzers aren't included. However, while beer is shrinking in market size, sales are actually up. Wall Street, in turn, likes liquor companies such as Constellation that make premium, higher-priced beer. "There's pockets of growth," said Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association. He said beer drinkers are seeking out more premium offerings as well. In 2021, overall beer sales were up 1% year over year - hitting $100.2 billion - and sales of craft beer jumped 8%, according to the association. Craft beer, said Watson, may be the industry's answer to consumers' increased willingness to spend more on variety, flavor and quality. Craft beer is typically made with higher quality ingredients, which provides consumers with a more flavorful and distinctive tasting beer than mass-produced options. "Those reaching for craft often want a variety of flavors and to try new things," said Watson, adding that craft brews "really helped beer not lose more market share over the last decade." The association said the number of operating craft breweries in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 2021 of 9,118. Paquette of Drizy said there are trend changes happening within the beer category - subcategories like light lagers, which contain a low alcohol volumes, and even non-alcoholic beer are showing growth across Drizly, as well. Still, it looks like cocktail culture is primed to be dominant in the United States. "Consumers are drawn to products that have a rich heritage and an interesting back story, and that's what spirits have to offer," said Hawkins of DISCUS. |
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