AFC Newsletter Spring 2026
Dear AFC Friend,
Why do we allow evil to prevail? While most would claim they don't want it to, our actions—or lack thereof—often suggest otherwise. We permit injustice to flourish in many circumstances where, if we were truly minded to act, we could stop it. One of the most prominent examples of this is the unchecked influence of the alcohol industry. I have often stated that alcohol proponents always get their way; looking at the landscape today, that statement is virtually 100% accurate. Everywhere we look, the alcohol industry triumphs over those seeking to curtail the devastation left in its wake. The result of this collective silence? A "national crisis."
In Arkansas, the evidence is undeniable. We see alcohol sold in "dry" counties against the will of voters, a rapid multiplication of liquor outlets, and constant legislative shifts that prioritize sales over public safety. From removing non-profit designations for restaurants in dry areas to the creation of "entertainment districts" for open containers, the industry's reach continues to expand.
Our non-involvement suggests a tacit acceptance of this path. Consider these four perspectives on the cost of silence:
"Silence is consent." Often attributed to the philosophy of Plato, this reminds us that failing to speak against injustice is equivalent to condoning it. Regarding the alcohol crisis, the silence is deafening.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Paraphrasing Edmund Burke, this sentiment warns that when those with ill intentions combine forces, good people must associate (come together) to resist them. Currently, there is far too little "coming together" on this issue.
"The world is a dangerous place," Albert Einstein once noted, "not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17).
We must break our silence, unite our efforts, and act for the good of our communities before the danger grows any further.
On the back page of this newsletter is a copy of two cards we have al ready sent to our Arkansas state legislators with intent to educate them on the seriousness of the alcohol problem. Our plans are to send a number of these cards with different information on each one so they will have no excuse for being ignorant of the problem. Please pray that they will read the cards and take them serious.
In Christ,
Bobby L. Hester
Dear Senator: (Actual name of legislator to be more personal)
DO WE HAVE A "NATIONAL CRISIS"?
Crisis: A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.
Columbia University Dept. Of Psychiatry: Alcohol Use Disorder: A Growing Public Health Crisis
Another website stated, The Alcohol Crisis In America Has Been Overshadowed By Opioids, But Can No Longer Be Ignored.
Others are calling it an epidemic: American Psychological Association - A hidden epidemic of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Another article was titled - "An epidemic of alcoholism is affecting America."
WE HAVE A CRISIS:
When there are an estimated one in eight adult Americans who are alcoholics.
When 40% of child abuse is alcohol related.
When every man, woman, and child in America is robbed of $807 every year to pay for the consequences of alcohol use and abuse.
When alcohol is the number one drug problem among young people.
When youth who drink alcohol are 7.5 times more likely to use any illicit drug, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine than young people who never drink alcohol. (CASA, 1994)
When more than 690,000 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
When 118,000 incidents of family violence will be linked to excessive drinking.
When estimates are that between 140,000 to 175,000 deaths each year are attributable to excessive alcohol use, making alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States.
When 40% of violent crime is alcohol related.
When annually there are more than 3 million cases of violent crime traceable to alcohol use and abuse in the U.S.
When 73% of all felonies are related to alcohol use and abuse.
When 41% of rape cases are alcohol related.
When 81% of wife battering cases are alcohol related.
When more than 40% of all fatal auto accidents are alcohol-related.
When alcohol-related deaths in the United States have surged by 30% in recent years.
What can we do about this in the legislature? We will be sending suggestions later on a card similar to this.
POSSIBLE LAWS THAT COULD BE PASSED IN ARKANSAS STATE LEGISLATURE
Urgent Action Needed: Seven Steps to Curb Alcohol Abuse
Dear Senator: (Actual name of legislator to be more personal)
Arkansas is at a crossroads, as all of the United States. The Arkansas Family Coalition is asking our legislators to take a stand against the alcohol industry's impact on our communities. Time is of the essence. We must consider:
1. Increasing taxes to offset the societal costs of abuse.
2. Capping alcohol content in retail drinks.
3. Banning or censoring predatory alcohol ads.
4. Mandating warning labels on all promotional materials.
5. Limiting sales windows to reduce late-night incidents.
6. Stricter BAC Standards: Lowering the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit from .08 to .05 for operating vehicles, following the lead of states like Utah and Washington.
7. Reducing the density of alcohol outlets in our neighborhoods.
If we fail to support these common-sense measures, we become silent partners in the industry's wake of destruction. We cannot claim to value the well-being of our citizens while ignoring the monumental financial and emotional toll of alcohol abuse. Thank you very much for considering these important facts.