Advocacy/Policy Case Study: Just a Nickel a Gallon Campaign

EVERY NICKEL COUNTS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT Supporters of an increase in New Jersey’s alcohol tax had, by 2006, grown accustomed to disappointment. The state’s excise tax on alcohol had not undergone anything approaching an increase since the early 1990’s. Yet after many years in what amounted to legislative exile, the issue commanded considerable attention during the budget discussions in spring of 2006.

How an alcohol tax hike proposal came to figure so prominently in those budget talks was the fruit of the collaboration between two organizations, one grassroots and one professional. To advance a politically unpopular issue such as increasing the tax on alcohol requires a mix of passion, skill and good timing. The Just A Nickel a Gallon Campaign, which in the short-term sought to raise nickels to fund treatment and in the long-term advocated to have revenues from an alcohol tax increase dedicated to expanding addiction treatment, saw these elements come into alignment. The result was that the issue received more attention in the press and among lawmakers, including the governor, than it had in a decade and a half.

JUST A NICKEL CASE STUDY Read how the campaign was developed and produced.

GET THE FACTS: NCADD-NJ BOOZE TAX PROPOSAL Information and statistics on an alcohol tax increase.

CAMPAIGN KIT: JUST A NICKEL A GALLON Fundraising Jugs JUST A NICKEL A GALLON Tool Kit JUST A NICKEL A GALLON Fact Sheet JUST A NICKEL A GALLON Door Hangers JUST A NICKEL A GALLON Petition Support Sheets Watch streaming video of JUST A NICKEL A GALLON press conference with Parent to Parent moms Kathleen Dobbs and Louise Halbicht. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES UPDATE! November 2008 California: A Nickel a Drink to Keep the Deficit Away Just days after Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed raising alcohol taxes by five cents per drink to patch up the $11.2 billion deficit in the state budget, other states are being urged to follow suit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2005-2006 Trenton Times Letter to the Editor Liquor Tax just a drop in the bucket Gannett Campaign starts to raise funds for alcohol abuse treatment Parents Call on Hike on Alcohol

Star Ledger
Burning Questions

Parent 2 Parent drive shows value of a nickel

Mothers say a nickel can fight addiction

Parent group rallies at Statehouse seeking an alcohol tax dedicated to drug treatment

Gloucester County Times
Drug addiction aid 'Just a Nickel' away

JoinTogether
NCADD-NJ and Parent 2 Parent make push for alcohol increase to fund addiction treatment

New Jersey Group Launches Campaign to Spur Alcohol Tax Hike

N.J. Advocates Seek Tax Increase for Treatment

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly
Parents group determined to add 10 million to substance abuse treatment

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More Information and Statistics on Increasing the Alcohol Tax by Just a Nickel a Gallon.