Coalition brings in national speaker on alcohol issues

By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition (JCSHYC) is hosting a nationally known speaker and panel for an event on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the National Motorcycle Museum.

     “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure” is planned to focus on underage drinking, impaired driving, and mental wellness.

     The speaker headlining the event is Dr. David Jernigan with the Center of Alcohol Marketing and Youth, as well as an associate professor with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Jernigan will touch on a variety of topics during his presentation, specifically highlighting the recent strides the State of Maryland has made in reducing alcohol-related driving fatalities, underage drinking, and overall binge drinking.

     Husmann previously heard Dr. Jernigan speak at a CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) event in Washington, D.C. and said she’s always wanted to bring him to Jones County.

     “He was successful is seeing drunk driving deaths decrease in Maryland through an increase in the state’s alcohol tax,” she said.

     This is a topic that has been on the Iowa Legislature’s radar for some time, and Husmann would like to see it brought to the forefront.

     Today, the range of beer excise taxes in the U.S. per gallon is $1.29 down to 2 cents. Iowa is at 19 cents a gallon, and ranked 31st out of the 50 states in terms of beer taxes. Husmann explained the 19 cents a gallon amounts to roughly less than 2 cents per drink. Iowa has not increased its beer tax since 1986, despite the fact that the cost of healthcare and treatment for those with substance abuse issues have greatly outpaced inflation in the past 30 years.

     Husmann said raising the beer excise tax just a nickel per drink would potentially generate $40 million. These funds could be used to help fund prevention and treatment for alcohol abuse and related enforcement.

     “I hope people will hear about the best practices used in other places,” Husmann said in terms of dealing with substance abuse issues.

     She said this is not the first time the state legislature has heard from coalitions about an interest in increasing the beer excise tax. Earlier this year the JCSHYC conducted a survey about this topic. Over 150 respondents took part in the survey, and showed 82.05 percent in favor of increasing the tax to a nick per drink. Those opposed amounted to 9.62 percent.

     “People have the power to make change,” encouraged Husmann.

     She said an increase of a nickel would bring the State of Iowa in the middle of pack in terms of the beer tax.

     Husmann said last year when the state increased the gas tax by 10 cents, they were able to track where those funds were going; how they were being used. She would like to see the potential beer tax increase do the same.

     With state and federal grants quickly disappearing for organizations such as the Coalition, Husmann said perhaps the excess beer tax could be treated as grants as well.

     The panel will be comprised of Dr. Jernigan, Rep. Andy McKean, Rep. Tod Bowman, and local county health professional Jenna Lovaas and Delma Hardin from Jones and Delaware counties. Topics for the panel will include: mental health concerns, the methamphetamine epidemic, and underage drinking.

     Prior to the 6:30 p.m. event, there will also be a health fair starting at 5:30 p.m. On hand will be dozens of local health-oriented organizations presenting a variety of services.

     For additional questions about the event, contact Husmann at 319-462-4327 ext. 202 or at jhusmann@asac.us.

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