A new law in Michigan now requires purchasers of kegs to provide their name, address, and a copy of their driver’s license so that a keg found at underage parties can be traced to its owner. However, retailers and consumers alike aren't convinced that this new "tagging" system will benefit keg beer sales. The first worry is that underage consumers will acquire other, more risky, bottled alcohol instead of buying kegs. Secondly, retailers aren't going to want to deal with tagging and re-tagging the kegs, and could possibly stop selling kegs all together. Lastly, of-age consumers may find that buying a keg is too risky with the consequences involved if an underage drinker is found drinking from the keg, and will choose to buy bottles or cans instead. Underage drinkers should never consume alcohol, but with the new law in place, of-age drinkers might not want to drink keg beer anymore either. 
What about Four Loko, another drink that has been popular with the underage crowd in the past? It's been reported that Phusion Projects, the makers of Four Loko, have reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission over the discrepancies of serving sizes. The FTC warned that the size of the can could be deceptive as far as how many serving sizes it contained. Phusion Projects agreed to add a resealable top to the cans as an indication that the drinks hold multiple servings. The makers of Four Loko have recently removed the energy stimulants in the drinks in order to comply with the FTC regulations that banned the original drinks from the shelves. Add Comment Knots of tipsy tipplers have long been a feature in German city squares and parks. Now, though, municipalities across the country have tired of public drinking and are seeking to ban the practice. Courts though have proven intransigent and critics are concerned about drinkers' civil rights. Grizzled characters clutching bottles on train station benches; groups of guzzling youth on city squares; loose empties rattling around subways: Signs of Germany's liberal public drinking laws are everywhere. Indeed, for many visitors to the country, sipping a beer while walking down the street is almost as exhilarating as a high-speed drive down the autobahn. Read this article in full by Eric Kelsey by clicking here. Alcohol Control is a Balance 08/04/2010
The rationale behind all alcohol control policies since the 18th Amendment, which established Prohibition, is governments' attempt to balance the overwhelming economic good of the legal manufacture, distribution and sale of alcohol versus any negative unintended consequences that occur as a result. The most important word is "control." With the 21st Amendment, the U.S. created a regulated, "controlled," tiered system of state regulation where each state has the power and authority to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. This model, by intentional design, is supposed to interfere with the Commerce Clause because the economics of commerce alone cannot and will not balance the two issues. All of Timothy Carney's arguments against H.R. 5034, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act, are based on the economics of the wholesale tier and the assertion that the present proponents of destroying this control mechanism are not doing so for their own financial gain as they try to make the wholesale tier the villains. Carney asks "Who is getting rich?" off of the legislation. The answer is that anything that has to do with alcohol at the supplier, wholesale and retail level is big business. A check of all three tiers' financial statements should offset his wholesale-greed argument alone. Unfortunately, medical cost, insurance and other expenses along with death, destruction and heartache are big businesses also. States allow the wholesale tier protection and guarantee their economic success by statute in exchange for a balance. History has shown that cheap, abundant, unregulated alcohol does not benefit a society. It does, however, benefit the alcohol retail and manufacture/supplier tiers at the expense of society as a whole. These suppliers and retailers are not "bad people." They just need to be controlled. As long as the wholesale tier is being controlled also, for the right reasons, this model is valid public policy. Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters/Letters-from-Readers-1006636-99777929.html#ixzz0veGFxRAX Beer brewers and drinkers opposed to privatization of state liquor sales? Indeed, says Heather McClung, president of the Washington Brewers Guild, which represents the state's small craft breweries and, roundaboutly, craft-brew drinkers. Her industry is lined up against I-1100 - though still weighing I-1105 - the privatization measures headed for the November ballot and detailed in last week's SW cover story. "There is something that is being left out of the discussion it seems," says McClung. Read the full article and more by Seattle Weekly Blog by clicking here! Importance of State Alcohol Regulation Highlighted during Congressman’s Visit to Indiana Warehouse 07/26/2010
U.S. Congressman Andre Carson (IN-07) recently paid a visit to Monarch Beverage Company, Inc., located in Indianapolis, Indiana, during Congress’ Independence Day District Work Period. Congressman Carson toured the company’s technologically-advanced distribution center, which was completed in 2009, and learned about the contributions beer distributors make and the important role state-based alcohol regulation plays in Indiana. To read the full article from the NBWA click here! NABCA Voices Support for Congressional Action to Strengthen States Ability to Regulate Alcohol 06/11/2010
 The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) Board of Directors has passed a resolution supporting Congressional enactment of H.R. 5034 known as the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (CARE) Act of 2010. The Board cited the need to protect the primary authority of the states to regulate beverage alcohol as their states’ citizens deem necessary and as provided by the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution. Read the full update by clicking here! Annual Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance surveys by CDC show significant declines in two key drinking measures among high school students since 2001. The table below shows that "current drinking" rates - having consumed alcohol at least once in the month prior to the survey - declined 11.2% from 2001 to 2009, from 47.1% of high school students to 41.8%. The sharpest declines occurred among the youngest students. The rate dropped by 23% among freshman but only 6% among high school seniors. And while the "current drinking" rate dropped at a double-digit pace among white and Hispanic students, it increased slightly among black students. Still, black students remain far less likely to drink alcohol beverages than their white or Hispanic counterparts. One other notable change from 2001 to 2009: young females are now more likely than young males to be current drinkers. Similarly, the "binge drinking" rate - having 5+ drinks on at least one occasion in the month prior to the survey -- declined significantly among most student groups. The overall "binge drinking" rate among high schoolers dropped by almost 20%, from 29.9% to 24.2%. Again, the rate dropped much more sharply among the youngest students: the freshman rate dropped by nearly 40%. Binge drinking also declined more sharply among male students than among females. And again, while black students remain far less likely to binge drink than whites or Hispanics, the rate rose from 2001-2009. The still-high binge drinking rate and other measures in the surveys indicate a large percentage of youth remain risk takers. Other findings from the 2009 survey: about 20% have taken a prescription drug without a doctor's prescription, 28% say they've ridden in a car (in the prior month) with a driver who had been drinking and 10% admitted to drinking and driving themselves. Current Drinking Binge Drinking 2001 2009 2001 2009 Total 47.1 41.8 29.9 24.2 Grade 9 41.1 31.5 24.5 15.3 10 45.2 40.6 28.2 22.3 11 49.3 45.7 32.2 28.3 12 55.2 51.7 36.7 33.5 Race Ethnicity White 50.4 44.7 34.0 27.8 Black 32.7 33.4 11.1 13.7 Hispanic 49.2 42.9 30.1 24.1 Gender Male 49.2 40.8 33.5 25.0 Female 45.0 42.9 26.4 23.4 Bill to permit local taxes on alcohol served by the glass short-circuits spending reforms 06/01/2010
The quest to find new revenue sources for local governments momentarily is focused on a proposed tax on alcoholic drinks served in bars and restaurants. A bill under House committee consideration would permit a levy of up to 50 cents a glass in communities if the tax is approved by local voters. It's a bad idea. This article was taken directly from the Detroit News and can be read in full from the link below. From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100509/OPINION01/5090308/Bill-to-permit-local-taxes-on-alcohol-served-by-the-glass-short-circuits-spending-reforms#ixzz0pcA0gy4I The Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act (or CARE) of 2010 made it's first appearance in the House of Representatives on April 15th. This bill would support a states right to regulate alcohol laws and reduce confusion in a states authority of alcohol regulations. The bill was introduced by representatives Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, Howard Coble of North Carolina, Mike Quigley of Illinois and Jason Chaffetz of Utah. The Bill has been introduced and assigned to a comittee. Many see CARE (H.R. 5034) as a step in the right direction in protecting a states primary authority in this matter |  Need corporate or promotional signage? click the picture to learn more!
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