Letter to the Editor - Columns - San Saba News & Star

Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Posted August 19, 2010

Dear Editor:

To all eligible voters in the City of San Saba,

Once again, the Bible has proved itself to be true. In 1 Timothy 6:10 we find these words: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

On November 2, we have an opportunity to defeat the liquor crowd, and I call on all same thinking citizens to vote NO to the sale of alcoholic beverages of any kind in our city.

There is not one positive benefit that has come from the use of beverage alcohol, (except, maybe the revenue that could possibly? be generated, but even that will be consumed by the negative consequences) but the negative and lasting devastation is plain for all to see. I would like to give a few simple statistics that should help make up our minds on this very important vote.

The following are statistics from The Center for 4-H Youth Development and were compiled by the University of Minnesota.

"Alcohol abuse is one of our most serious health problems. 4.6 million teens have alcohol related problems. The U.S. ranks 20th in the world for per capita alcohol consumption. Americans consume an average of 2.75 gallons per year, per person, 14 years and older." The percentage of social problems related to alcohol abuse is shown in the following data:

Accidents

41% of all deaths from falls

30% of drowning deaths

25% of boating deaths

45-55% of fire fatalities are alcohol related.

Crimes

55-75% of homicide victims

40% of rape offenders had been drinking at the time of t he incident. 50% of those who commit sex abuse crimes abuse alcohol.

Suicides

80% of all adolescent suicides have been reported to be children of alcoholic parents.

Family Violence

In 44-70% of the reported cases of battered women, the offender was drunk.

70% of adult women alcoholics were sexually abused as children.

Children of alcoholic parents are twice as likely to develop their own alcoholic problems. 82% of adjudicated delinquent adolescents had at least one alcoholic parent.

It appears to me that the devastating consequences of alcohol use far out weight its benefits. Every alcohol abuser started with one drink. I think we should make it hard for our children to have access to alcohol instead of making it readlily available and then pretending it is a socially acceptable thing to do. It's just a way to make a profit without regards of the long-term consequences. When money becomes more important than people, we have a serious problem. I, for one, will vote NO!

Welton Watson

San Saba TX

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