Press release from Our VOICE:
In an effort to combat drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), Our VOICE and the Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA) are joining forces for the 4th annual Pints for Our VOICE fundraiser, happening throughout all of April, which is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Select Asheville Brewers Alliance Breweries will raise funds to support Our VOICE’s 24/7 rape crisis services throughout the month of April by pouring “Pints for Our VOICE,” in which $1 per pint of specialty-craft brews directly benefit the agency.
Members of the Asheville Brewers Alliance will not only raise funds to support survivors of rape, but they will also take a stand to minimize sexual assault by participating in The BAR Outreach Project, a curriculum developed by Our VOICE that educates bar owners and staff about DFSA while addressing bystander intervention strategies that can help protect patrons and employees alike.
2019 Participating ABA Breweries Include:
Burial Beer, pouring “Shadowclock Pilsner”
Burial Beer Co-Founder Jessica Reiser says: “Burial supports Our VOICE each year to support National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Our VOICE is a pillar of the Asheville community as they are not just there to assist people through hard times, but they take a proactive and educational stance against abuse. We couldn’t be more honored to be a part of their efforts in this community.”
Sanctuary Brewing, pouring “Bobby Beer Jr Kolsch”
Lisa McDonald says: “Sanctuary Brewing is proud to help raise awareness and funds for Our VOICE. They are doing vital work for our community and we are thrilled to help out such a wonderful organization in any way we can!”
Wicked Weed Brewing, pouring “Ningose”
Rachel Dudasik says, “The name is a nod to the beer style, gose, and the Goddess of Beer, Ninkasi). Made with Earl Grey tea and blackberries, Ningose was originally brewed by the women of Wicked Weed for Biere de Femme festival and International Women’s Day. $1 per pour benefits Our VOICE as a part of Pints of Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”
UpCountry Brewing in Asheville and Brevard, pouring Zink This! Porter
Deep and dark with reddish undertones, this Porter is somewhat sweet, maltier, and a more chocolate version of a traditional English porter.
“We’re very honored to be involved in the Our Voice campaign,” says UpCountry Brewing’s owner John Cochran. “Education and support of sexual assault/abuse victims is a positive, progressive, and important cause to be a part of, and we’re glad to take part.”
Innovation Brewing, pouring Bear Lake Brown Ale
Nicole Owen, of Innovation Brewing says, “We are proud to partner with this amazing organization for this fundraising opportunity. The resources they provide are so necessary and in high demand and we are happy to be able to contribute to helping people in our community have access to their services as well as help bring awareness to Our Voice.”
Pisgah Brewing, pouring Blonde Ale
Bhramari Brewing, pouring Losing Fiction IPA
Catawba Brewing, pouring Small Batch Double Dry Hopped (DDH) Sour (release date 4/4)
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., pint for Our VOICE TBA
Asheville Pizza & Brewing owner Mike Rangel says: “Asheville Brewing Company is proud to be a small part of the Our VOICE Outreach Program. We’re also excited to be part of a community that works together to address issues that concern us all.”
Green Man, pint for Our VOICE TBA
New Belgium Brewing, details TBA
One World, pint for Our VOICE TBA
Lisa Schutz of One World says, “We support Our VOICE and their mission because everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe from harm from others both in private and public situations. Through the years my awareness has grown to how many people sexual assault impacts. Sexual assault and harassment has may different faces including inappropriate unsolicited touching or violence which has come up time and again in bars and public places in our town. This is one of many ways we can stand up for peace, equality and respect and support services for those who are in need.”
On Monday, April 22, $1 per pint of ALL Hillman Brewed Beers will benefit Our VOICE
Brandi Hillman says: “We love partnering with Our Voice to educate ourselves and the staff to make us better citizens of the world, at work or outside of work. We are grateful for what they offer the community.”
Alcohol is often used as the drug of choice to incapacitate victims, who are subsequently unable to give active consent to sexual activity. Approximately 50% of reported cases of sexual assault involve alcohol (Abbey, Zawacki, et al., 2001). Alcohol is the most often drug used to incapacitate victims, making it impossible for them to give consent.This makes bars and breweries an important setting for opening community dialogue around alcohol’s involvement sexual violence.
“With the help of leaders in our brewing community, we are able to work together to prevent drug facilitated sexual violence in our community,” says Angélica Reza Wind, the Executive Director of Our VOICE.
“Ending sexual violence is a community effort and the more people we have who are trained in bystander intervention the better,” continues Wind. “Our partners at the ABA are in solidarity with our mission to create a community free of sexual violence, ensuring that there are people on the ground willing and able to step in and help prevent an assault from happening.”
Leah Rainis, of the Asheville Brewers Alliance, says of the partnership: “Ensuring the safety of patrons and staff in Asheville’s beer community is a top priority for the Asheville Brewers Alliance, and we are proud to partner with Our VOICE for a fourth year on Pints for Our VOICE during the month of April.”The Asheville Brewers Alliance, which includes over 50 local and regional breweries and 40 associate members in Western North Carolina, is committed to creating a craft-beer community free of sexual assault.
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