Community Calls On Fresh & Easy to Obey California Liquor Control Law

MEDIA ADVISORY, for events occurring:                                             
Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 11:00 a.m.  

Turnout Flyerpdf
Petition Flyerpdf



CONTACT: Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336
 

Community Calls On Fresh & Easy
to Obey California Liquor Control Law
 
Underage Liquor Sales at Fresh & Easy Tied to Store’s Refusal to Comply with   
State Ban on Sale of Alcohol Through Self-checkout Machines


EL SEGUNDO, CA (September 18, 2012) – Despite the enactment of a state ban (AB 183) on the sale of alcohol through self-checkout machines at the beginning of the year, grocery stores like Fresh & Easy are still being cited for selling alcohol to minors through these registers. On Wednesday, elected officials, members of the clergy, and concerned community members will hold a press conference to call on Fresh & Easy to comply with the ban and do their part to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors and intoxicated persons.

Fresh & Easy stores have been cited multiple times for selling alcohol to minors through their self-checkout machines, including a citation at the Manhattan Beach store after the ban went into effect. Fresh & Easy has been a vocal opponent of this law, and their lobby group, the California Grocers Association, filed a lawsuit that has postponed the law’s enforcement.

State Senator Ted Lieu and Assemblywoman Betsy Butler are calling on Fresh & Easy to do their part in preventing underage drinking by obeying the law. Alcohol Justice and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) affiliates in Los Angeles and San Francisco have gathered over 6,000 signatures of local residents to petition Fresh & Easy to obey this common-sense public safety measure. The petition will be delivered to Fresh & Easy at a press conference on Wednesday.

WHAT: Press conference and delivery of a community petition calling on Fresh & Easy to obey the law

WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

WHERE: Fresh & Easy, 1700 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

WHO:         

§   Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, 53rd District

§   Irving Pacheco, on behalf of State Senator Ted Lieu

§   John O. Whitaker, Jr., Alcohol Justice Board of Directors & President of Paso Por Paso

§   Rabbi Jonathon Klein, CLUE-LA

§   Rev. Arnold Townsend, VP San Francisco NAACP

§   Rev. John Miller

§   Members of the clergy, and community activists

 
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