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Eugene <br /> 4 <br /> Community <br /> Partnership <br /> February 20, 1997 <br /> Scobert Park Advisory Committee <br /> Public Works Maintenance Division <br /> 1820 Roosevelt <br /> Eugene, OR 97402 <br /> Dear Committee Members: <br /> The Eugene Community Partnership is a coalition of concerned citizens and <br /> organizations focused on reducing risk factors to youth for involvement in <br /> substance use, crime, violence and other problem behaviors. We are involved in <br /> strategies which work directly with young people as well as strategies designed <br /> to impact the overall community environment. <br /> During the past five years, the Eugene Community Partnership has had the <br /> opportunity to benefit from training to change social and environmental policies <br /> that directly impact the destructive use of alcohol at a community level. In that <br /> vein, we are submitting this statement of support for the proposed ban on sales <br /> of large single - serving and fortified alcohol in the neighborhood. The problems in <br /> Scobert Park are complex and require multiple intervention strategies. At the <br /> same time, we know that the availability of low cost, large servings of malt liquor <br /> and other beer is a significant contributor to much of the alcohol and other drug <br /> abuse, violence and other violations of park rules. <br /> According to the US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC, <br /> alcohol - related injuries are the single leading cause of death among youth and <br /> young adults, with nearly one third of all deaths among males age 15 to 24 <br /> alcohol - related. According to the US Department of Justice, 54% of people <br /> convicted of violent crimes in state prisons had used alcohol just before the <br /> offense. The majority of rapes and assaults are also alcohol - related. Recent <br /> studies have documented a Zink between increased alcohol use and aggression <br /> of many kinds. Alcohol also impairs judgment. <br /> Large single servings and malt liquor pose particular problems to the community. <br /> The product is designed to be low cost and high alcohol. Malt liquors range in <br /> alcohol content from 5.6% (Colt 45) to 8.0% (St. Ides) by volume. Regular beer <br /> averages 4.6% alcohol by volume. Drinking one 40 ounce bottle of St. Ides is <br /> equivalent to drinking a little more than five shots of whiskey. <br /> c <br />