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Groups, Parents Urge Maryland Gov. to Veto Alcopops Bill
May 9, 2008

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News Summary

Advocacy groups and parents of teens killed in alcohol-related incidents this week sent a pair of Mother's Day appeals to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley urging him to veto a bill that would treat sweetened "alcopop" drinks the same as beer for regulatory and tax purposes.

The groups called on O'Malley to kill SB 745, an alcohol-industry backed measure that seeks to enshrine sweet alcoholic drinks like Mike's Lemonade as beer in state regulations, even though the products often carry the names of liquor companies like Bacardi and Seagram's and get much of their alcohol content from distilling, not brewing. As in many states, beer is also taxed at a much lower rate than liquor in Maryland.

A letter signed by the parents of eight Maryland teens killed in underage-drinking incidents urged O'Malley to "stop this dangerous special-interest bill" that they said helps the alcohol industry target young drinkers.

"You and only you hold the power to stop this terrible bill," the parents wrote. "We do not want another mother or father to suffer as we have and celebrate Mother’s Day in such permanent pain. We ask that you help prevent more deaths and injuries by standing up to the alcohol lobby and veto the alcopops legislation now."

In a separate letter signed by groups like MADD, Students Against Destructive Behaviors (SADD), the American Public Health Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, advocates praised O'Malley for postponing a scheduled signing of the bill.

"Alcopops are not beer," the letter stated. "They are far more closely associated with a low alcohol spirits than a beer product. The alcohol content it is masked by sweet, fruity additive flavors, which has led some to refer to these them as 'kiddie booze.'"

"Just because other states have this law as a result of a coordinated campaign by the alcohol industry is no excuse for signing this bill," the groups wrote. "Let us work together to make Maryland the leader in the nation on preventing underage drinking. Your veto of SB 745 is the first step."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:
(Comments now appear first to last)

Posted by John French on 12 May 08 11:22 AM EDT
This is yet another blatant attempt by the beverage alcohol industry to sway public policy in the direction of enticing youth to drink. And they will continue -- it costs them little to push for these policy changes, and even a "hit rate" of one in a dozen brings them riches in increased consumption by youth. We must stay vigilant.

Posted by Dan R. Gray, Professional Addictions Futurist on 15 May 08 04:40 AM EDT
The "Nicotine Addiction Project" has been very successful and the beer, wine and spirits industry realize that they are now "in the same barrel." The "Alcohol Addiction Project" forces them to go for the "Last Hurrah" and make as much as they can before the crash. The NIH, as I recall, noted not long ago that 80% of all of the alcohol being consumed in the U.S. was being consumed by "heavy drinkers" and underage drinkers. Without saying alcoholics, isn't that what they meant? The beer, wine and spirits industry has known this for years. Social drinkers do not bring in much revenue but alcoholics sure do. Get them started young and glamorize drinking. That keeps alcoholics moving along their path to destruction as young alcoholics are getting in line. Current genetic engineering and neuropsychopharmacology is currently being initiated that will put and end to this devastating disease. This is all "as I see it."

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