Yes it’s true: At grocery stores and convenience stores throughout California, customers can purchase alcohol through self-service checkout stands without any interaction with an employee.

MADD is very concerned that selling alcohol through self-service checkout stands makes it easier for minors to purchase alcohol; allows customers who are intoxicated to purchase alcohol; and it creates opportunities to steal alcohol since there is often inadequate supervision. In fact, a recent study conducted by UCLA and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) found:

• 32% of participants were not asked to show ID when purchasing alcohol through a self-checkout stand.

• In almost 20% of instances, participants were able to purchase alcohol

without any interaction with an employee.

In contrast, store clerks are well trained to check for proper identification and to interact with customers to ensure that they are not already intoxicated. That’s why MADD California is supporting Assembly Bill 1060 (De La Torre) which will stop the sale of alcohol through self-checkout stands and require a face-to-face transaction when alcohol is being purchased.

Please click here to sign our petition today to tell Governor Schwarzenegger to sign AB 1060 into law

Join MADD, California Council on Alcohol Policy, California Police Chief’s Association, California Narcotics Officers Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association and the California Peace Officers’ Association, in stopping the sale of alcohol through self-checkout stands.

Please sign our petition today and forward it to everyone you know. Only with your help can we ensure that alcohol is sold through face-to-face transactions.

Sincerely,

Gail Butler

State Executive Director

PS: Join us at one of our upcoming store actions (in July and August) as we rally at grocery stores that sell alcohol at self-checkout stands. Stay tuned for more details.

Twelve recipients were named “Real Heroes” by the American Red Cross Friday evening.  You may remember some of these heroes, because they made local headlines.

In October of 2009, a tree trimmer was working on a palm tree in south Bakersfield, when he lost his footing and became trapped 50 feet up.  Bakersfield Fire Department Engineer Scott Smith hoisted the helpless man out of the tree, to safety, earning himself a real hero award. “It’s kind of cool to be nominated, and to be appreciated for what we do,” Smith said.

Then there’s local surgeon Dr. Vipul Dev, who stepped in to help Oildale resident Lee Lyle, and many others, for free.  Lyle lived with a piece of his skull in his stomach for more than a year after a motorcycle crash and initial surgery, because he couldn’t afford the second surgery.  Dev is our medical professional real hero. “The surgeries I do for free – they’re more reconstructive in nature. They’re people who have deformities in everyday life. They have lost function of a working body part,” Dev said.

Bakersfield police officers Isaac Aleman and Aaron Stringer responded to a 7-11 store in southwest Bakersfield in September. A suspect opened fire, hitting Aleman in the leg. The officers fired back, hitting the suspect and saving Aleman’s life. “I think that what I did is no more than any other officer would have done. I’m still grateful for it,” Aleman said.

And the list of heroic acts goes on.  Martin Barrios was named Outstanding Youth Role Model for saving three young children from a burning home. Lucian Whitman jumped in the Kern River to save the life of a stranger. “I think that God gives us all opportunities and it’s up to us to take them,” Whitman said.

Here is a complete list of winners:
Outstanding Adult Role Model – Carla Pearson
Outstanding Youth Role Model – Martin Barrios
Outstanding Volunteer Group – Wounded Heroes Fund
Educator – Lisa Kane
Military – Larry Ybanez
Fallen Heroes – The families of Major Jason E. George and Sgt. Josh Soto
Firefighter – Scott Smith
Law Enforcement – Ofc. Isaac Aleman and Ofc. Aaron Stringer
Heroic Act – Lucian Whitman
Medical Professional – Dr. Vipul Dev

Article Courtesy of KGET.com

If you are a law enforcement officer in the State of California and wish to attend this event, please contact Silas Miers by email at silas.miers@madd.org.