Tribe Suing Beer Companies for Alcohol Problems

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Posted: Thu 1:34 PM, Feb 09, 2012

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Reporter: Associated Press

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Tribe Suing Beer Companies for Alcohol Problems

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- An American Indian tribe is suing some of the world's largest beer makers, claiming they knowingly contributed to alcohol-related problems on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota filed a federal lawsuit Thursday demanding $500 million from five international beer manufacturers for the cost of health care, social services and child rehabilitation caused by chronic alcoholism on the reservation.

The lawsuit also targets four off-site beer stores in Whiteclay, a Nebraska town with a population of about a dozen people on the South Dakota border that sells nearly 5 million cans of beer annually.

The Connecticut-sized reservation has struggled with alcoholism and poverty for generations, despite an alcohol ban since 1832. Pine Ridge legalized alcohol in 1970, but restored the ban two months later.

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by BS on Feb 10, 2012 at 01:24 PM

Just as soon as all you drunks get done feeling sorry for yourselves, let me know. In the mean time go have a pitty party.

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by anon on Feb 10, 2012 at 10:06 AM

What is happening to this country? This is ridiculous, no one pours alcohol down their throats. And if they want to go by stuff from long ago take away the bass boats, the guns, spotlights, etc. Let them go out and make there own boats, use hand made weapons. Why do they think everything should be given to them on a silver platter. Sounds like the want more money.

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by imbobim Location: up north on Feb 9, 2012 at 05:11 PM

Really... sue the beer companies...? SIGH, What's next?

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by Anonymous on Feb 9, 2012 at 04:39 PM

Considering the establishment is located in a community of 2 dozen and adjacent to a tribe with a known issue does appear to be preying on a dysfunction. We don't allow pedophiles to live next to playgrounds...

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- by really? on Feb 9, 2012 at 08:31 PM in reply to Anonymous
  
  are you sure about that? why don't you check Familywatchdog.us? Then try to tell me there are no pedophiles living next to schools or playgrounds.
  
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by Anonymous on Feb 9, 2012 at 04:37 PM

I have said all along, why do they have the right to a casino and we do not? They signed these treaties many, many years ago as a soverign nation. But they do not have to adhere to the treaty 100%. The comment has been times have changed. True! Then isn't time for all of us to follow the same laws? Maybe it is time for a new treaty or no treaty and follow the rules and laws of today. I have always felt, be fair, but it needs to be fair and equal to all. Some how this has not happened.

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by Louis on Feb 9, 2012 at 04:16 PM

Get ready for them to sue the food industry next for making them Obese I mean they forced all that food down their throats just like the breweries sent those people out there to hold them down and pour that beer in them...

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by irony on Feb 9, 2012 at 02:48 PM

Funny how alcohol is illegal there, but the residents seem to scurry to the outskirts of town to purchase the alcohol. Now the tribe is suing the people that sell the beverages because they are contributing to the deterioration of the tribe. That will be a good case study for when I sue the local tribes here for running casinos that are illegal here, but I can run to the outskirts of town to go gamble away my paycheck which results in me becoming destitute because of the addictive gaming they are knowingly pushing on society. *the above statement is sarcasm-in truth I think people should stop blaming others and take responsibility for themselves. ** I looked and verified that the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota runs the Prairie Wind Casino.

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- by bill on Feb 9, 2012 at 10:11 PM in reply to irony
  
  excellent analogy and spot on!!
  
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by Lucy on Feb 9, 2012 at 02:37 PM

You've GOT to be kidding!!! SERIOUSLY??? Next thing ya know the tribes in Wisconsin will jump on the bandwagon of that campaign. Just think what that would do here with all the generations-old breweries. If someone can't control their own drinking habits, that is NOT a reason to blame the brewing companies. Sad! Sounds like a money-making scheme to me.

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