Brown has become one of the most effective advocates for the alcohol industry in the nation. For example, he managed to get frozen alcoholic drinks excluded from the state's open-container law for friends in the drive-through daiquiri business. Brown has also been influential in enabling gas stations to sell cans of beer on ice, allowing grocery stores to sell liquor 24-hours a day, and permitting bars to stay open around the clock.

While public opinion has shifted nationally towards tougher regulations on alcohol sales and drinking while driving, Brown has managed to block bills in Louisiana that would have prevented underage drinkers from entering bars, tightened punishment for repeat offenders, and toughened the open-container law.

Even though other states have increased alcohol taxes to address budget deficits, Louisiana's excise taxes on beer haven't been increased since 1948, thanks largely to Brown's advocacy efforts.

"It's unfortunately true that some people abuse alcohol, but people abuse fast cars, too, and sometimes they get themselves killed," Brown said. "I just don't believe we should be passing laws telling people how to live."

Louisiana's relaxed alcohol laws are reflected in the state's high number of alcohol-related deaths. According to federal statistics, Louisiana ranks second in alcohol-related fatalities per mile traveled.

"Alcohol is placed prominently in our stores, and advertised heavily to our young people, and almost every bill that would make it harder for youth to buy alcohol, or make our drunk-driving laws stronger, George Brown and his cronies can kill," said James Champagne, chief of the state Highway Safety Commission and a retired colonel in the state police.

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