Mothers Against Drunk Drivers today scored Alaska four out of five stars in a state-by-state ranking of DUI prevention across the country. In its “2014 Report to the Nation,” the non-profit outline five actions each state should take to curb drunken driving. Alaska has already enacted most of those steps, including: – Requiring ignition interlock […]
What happens when it’s the state selling the booze?
States that directly control their own alcohol sales through state-run liquor stores get more revenue from booze than states like Alaska that issue liquor licenses to private retailers, the University of Michigan has found. Unlike Alaska, which takes its cut of the alcohol business through high taxes, some states also directly handle wholesale and/or retail […]
Family sues Chilkoot Charlie’s after daughter killed in DUI crash
Lanita Sweatt-Sanders says goodbye to her daughter, Citari Townes-Sweatt. Police say the 20-year-old was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Sweatt-Sanders has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Anchorage court, accusing Chilkoot Charlie’s of liability in the death. […]
‘I Guess I Thought I Was Invincible’
Twice a day, Larry Berg responds to the sound of a siren coming from his south Anchorage bedroom. He must blow into an alcohol monitor on his dresser and prove to Alaska Pretrail Services and the state that he hasn’t been drinking. If he drinks or misses a test, he’ll go back to jail to […]
Daily Breathalyzer to be used statewide
Larry Berg submits breath samples to an alcohol monitor in his home twice a day as he awaits a court hearing on his fourth DUI charge. Alaska Pretrial Services monitors his compliance with a court order to not drink. […]
What does 0.08 feel like?
Can you tell when you’re too drunk to legally drive? Alaska law says a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher means you’re too soused to get behind the wheel, but we wondered just how precise partygoers are when it comes to guessing their limits. After buying what seemed like the last pocket Breathalyzer in Anchorage, […]
‘It’s a blessing to have gone through such bad stuff’
Within weeks of landing in Anchorage, George McBee was learning how to be homeless on the streets of Anchorage. Camping on “Party Hill,” a slope of urban woods just a block from Bean’s Cafe, experienced street people showed him how to keep condensation out of his tent and taught him not to “party” alone. It […]
Alcohol & Me: ‘I don’t believe anymore that I’m nothing’
Looking back on the person she used to be, Donna Fischer isn’t sure whether she wants to slap that woman or just give her a hug. Starting at age 9, alcohol was her companion as she made choices that led her to juvenile detention and several prison terms as an adult. Felony drug possession and […]
A Military Discount on Beer? Not in Alaska
When a hostess at an Airport Heights buffet offered underage customers a 10 percent military discount on beer, she was breaking not one Alaska law, but two, according to charges filed this week in state court. Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Kogi restaurant owner Young Hyon Kim with perjury, failure to have a valid alcohol […]