Advocating for Alcohol Free Children
The Kansas Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Initiative continues
to get its message out across the state. More than 370 resolutions on underage
drinking have been signed in 85 counties and 120 cities and towns in Kansas.
We are still waiting on resolutions from the following counties: Barber,
Chase, Cheyenne, Cloud, Comache, Ellsworth, Graham, Gove, Hamilton, Haskell,
Kearney, Lane, Meade, Lincoln, Marshall, Nemaha, Ness, Ottawa, Osborne,
Rush, Stafford, Stevens, and Trego. If you live or know people in any of
these counties encourage them to join us in promoting alcohol free youth.
Copies of the resolution can be obtained by calling the Kansas Family Partnership
at 1-800-206-7231 or one can be download online from www.kansasfamily.com.
Committee members promoted a "Message in a Bottle" to legislators this month
by asking SADD chapter members to deliver empty beer bottles with a new
message to "Be Wise About Underage Drinking." The bottles included Kansas
statistics about underage drinking as well as strategies to reduce this
problem. Legislators are being encouraged to pass Senate Bill 407 that will
require beer kegs to be tagged when purchase. Keg registration is a strategy
designed to discourage purchase of kegs for underage drinkers.
Alliance Joins Health Care Access Coalition
The Kansas Medical Society Alliance voted at its February statewide meeting
to join the Kansas Health Care Access Coalition and support Governor Graves'
proposal to increase in the excise tax on cigarettes to 65-cents. This coalition
was formed to gain statewide support to get this excise tax passed by the
legislature and signed into law during this legislative session.
Over 40 organizations have joined this coalition including the Kansas Medical
Society, Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Public Health Association,
American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Tobacco Free Kansas
Coalition, American Lung Association of Kansas, Kansas State Nurses' Association,
Kansas Chapter, Academy of Pediatrics, and many other groups concerned about
the health of Kansans. Jerry Slaughter, Executive Director of the Kansas
Medical Society, stated, "The Governor's excise tax initiative, and resulting
decrease in tobacco consumption, is in the best interest of our citizens'
health. Additionally, we reap the benefits in long-term healthcare savings
in our state as well."
Alliance members are encouraged to call their legislators and tell them
they support the 65-cent excise tax increase on cigarettes. For more information
about the Coalition, you may contact Michelle Voth, Shawnee County Alliance
member at 1-800-206-7231.
