Most beers with more than 5% alcohol are microbrews that cost 50%-500% more than the heavily selling beers containing under 5% alochol. Most binge beer drinkers consume lower cost (and lower alcohol) beers because microbrews are more expensive. Hopefully, we should all agree that all beers (like wines and liquors) should be correctly label the alcohol content. It should be noted that alcohol opponents previously lobbied for laws prohibiting beer from revealing its alcohol content.

This is a misleading report. The 20 states with caps all have pretty high "caps." Ohio, for instance, has a 12% cap; Iowa charges higher taxes for beer over 5%, but it's not illegal. Besides, the whole idea of a 'cap' on beer alcohol levels is ridiculous when wine and spirits are available.

I have recently been exposed to this phenomonon right in New York State. One of my patients, a relatively high functioning man, that does not realize that he is alcoholic, because he drinks beer. I am aghast that this is going on, yet a few articles down, Mexican Cartels, why don't we just call them organized crime , like bootleggers, are growing poy on our National Parks or Native Reservations. The simple way to put all Drug cartels" out of business, is to legalize drugs, have them sold by State or Federal operated stores, like the state run package stores. With a certain amount of money being funnelled directly to treatment programs that have proved that they can get results. Treatment should be on demand, available to all, no matter what their financial circumstances are. Whether it is alcohol, pot or heroin, the disease is the same. The treament doesn't come from the police, otherwise, you would never have a repeat offender. I had the good fortune to work with Carlo DiClemente, he told me that the percentage of people that have open heart surgery, 12 months after the procedure, about the same percentage are still followig their physcian's directions, as people that come out of rehab. How come we don't send those people to heart care court, or something like that? When will we as a country stop Prohibition? We sell the most toxic and poisonous mood altering chemicals legaly, but our prisons and courts are clogged with non-violent offenders; and the gangsters keep getting richer, because our laws allow it. Join LEAP. At least check the website, LEAP.CC Barry Schecter

I'm sorry Barry but recovering heart patients are not endangering my life on the highways or robbing my house to get money for their drugs. I agree we can hurt the gangsters and cartels by decriminalizing pot, but stonger drugs take away your ability to make rational decisions and cannot be compared to heart surgery.

In both cases posted by, Fred and Barry, it is the resposibility of the parents to educate there children from an early age about the hazards of drugs, alcohol included. I know I learned how to drink watching my parents habits and it almost killed me. So perhaps if they were taught to at least be responsible in therr drinking or not drink at all this might have a better far reaching impact in all cases.

Shame on your organization for misunderstanding and demonizing beer, which is first and foremost, a product of the culinary arts, and should not be treated as some sort of street drug! I wonder why you don't talk about high-end vintage wine in this way. As others have already correctly pointed out, the kinds of beer that possess such a high alcohol content are expensive craft brews that are usually consumed in very small quantities, often as part of a meal. These fine works of the brewer's craft are generally not the products being abused by common winos, who prefer low grade swill or hard liquor. The amount of intoxication they can get for their dollar is their concern. Lamentably, the naive and puritanical forces that were foolish enough to propose prohibition in the twentieth century have somehow survived into the twenty-first. The fact that a minority of people have a sickness that causes them to abuse alcohol is not adequate reason to restrict the production and enjoyment of craft beer for those of us who are healthy and responsible. Gluten is harmful to celiacs, and some folks are also violently allergic to dairy products. Let's fight to ban cheese and bread then! I have a feeling that the academic types behind this organization know very little about the long and honorable history of beer and brewing. We can blame the American macrolager industry for the low esteem in which most of us hold this ancient technology.

I think the idea of alcohol percentages is not the issue. It comes down to personal responsibility. People have to know when to say enough is enough. I agree, however, that proper labeling is important. Drinkers should know how much alcohol they are imbibing, but again they still have to be responsible enough to take time to read the label.

Raising the alcohol content of beer sounds like a great way to make money for states that are struggling financially--money in the form of fines, etc for DWI's. Just think of the opportunities for more and more arrests--(hopefully the arrest is for drunk driving and not for vehicular homicide).

Folks, you will NEVER understand this issue, because you cannot see any reason for having a drink other than for getting blind drunk. I drink almost every day, but not to get drunk, and you know? Two beers in a night is fine for me. There are a lot of drunks, but there are more people like me. Many more. Leave us out of the equation, and you get some very strange answers.