Birmingham’s Dawson Memorial to host ACAP national meeting

The American Council on Alcohol Problems (ACAP) will hold its national meeting Sept. 23–24 at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham.

The Monday night session will begin at 7 and is open to the public. Local churches and community members are encouraged to attend. The session will feature singing by Elizabeth Godfrey Ford, daughter of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) executive director Joe Godfrey, and preaching by Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church.

Tuesday’s speakers are:

• Jim Angel, professor at Samford University in Birmingham, will speak on the effects of alcohol on health.
• Jason Underwood, a lawyer from Kentucky, will address privatization of alcohol sales.
• David Brumbelow, author of “Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence,” will address the topic of his book.
• Tony Cooper, executive director of Birmingham’s Jimmie Hale Mission, will speak to the group as they tour the shelter in downtown Birmingham.

ACAP — which is made up of 37 state affiliates — seeks to reduce the influence, availability and consumption of alcohol in the U.S.

ALCAP serves as Alabama’s affiliate to ACAP. ALCAP leaders work to keep the state informed of moral issues that need to be addressed. It is an interdenominational ministry supported by donations from individuals and churches. As an auxiliary of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, ALCAP also receives a small amount of funding through the Cooperative Program.

Godfrey said alcohol is an “increasing threat” in society. As it becomes more available, the more likely young people are to drink it, he said, noting one of the biggest issues facing states right now is the privatization of alcohol.

Privatization puts alcohol sales and distribution in the hands of private companies as opposed to being controlled by the state itself.

Alabama is currently a “control state,” but there is discussion in the Legislature to privatize alcohol, Godfrey said.

In control states, the state itself sells and distributes heavier beverages at local Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) stores and uses a parallel license system to regulate the sale of lighter beverages, such as beer and wine.

Along with educating those in attendance on privatization and other issues related to alcohol, ACAP members also will say goodbye to their executive director, Dan Ireland. Ireland, who served as ALCAP’s executive director for 30 years before retiring in 2008, is stepping down from his 15-year ACAP post.

Bill Day will be named the new ACAP executive director. Day, who works with ALCAP’s school program (American Character Builders), is the retired education director for ALCAP.

For more information about ALCAP, visit www.alcap.com. For more information about the ACAP conference or to register a group, visit www.sapacap.com or call Cheryl Corley at 205-989-8177.