George Griffin, Director of the Montgomery County, MD Department of Liquor Control.
The state of Montana recog- nized this trend early and has put guidelines in place to define what’s included in its inventory and clearly defines beer, wine and spirits. For example, beer must be 8.75 percent alcohol-by-volume or lower and cannot include caffeine or stimu- lants, or up to 14 percent ABV if at least 75 percent of the sugars used for fermentation are derived from malted cereal grains. The agency isn’t looking to ban all non-traditional drinks, just pro- vide better information to con- sumers. “We can’t regulate human behavior,” said Sam Monismith, professor of Behavioral Sciences and Education at Penn State Harrisburg, “but we want people to be informed so they can make good decision. Content, size, labeling,
Sharon Foster, Chair of the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
said. “That’s a recipe that leads to overdrinking.”
All three speakers agreed that the current taxation rates on beer, wine and spirits no longer reflect the modern brewing, distilling and mix- ing processes that create such a wide array of hybrid drinks.
Sharing the Story N
Phil Lang, former chairman of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission
appearance, effects, and flavors all impact how a drink should be regulated and clearly defined.” Dr. Monismith emphasized that standard drink sizes are often forgotten as containers become larger and that consumers often don’t realize the alcohol content of some high-proof beer.
Bill Kerr of the Alcohol Research Group con- curred, saying his research shows that standard drink labeling (such as the labeling in Australia) better allows consumers to track their alcohol intake. “Flavored malt beverages have packaging that can contain up to five standard drinks in a single can,” he
StateWays s www.stateways.com s July/August 2011
ext year will mark 75 years since the NABCA’s founding, and Mark Bodi has been chosen as chairman-elect to take the reigns following the anniversary confer- ence. Current Chairman Patrick J. Stapleton of Pennsylvania has cho- sen “Acknowledging the Benefits of Control” as the theme for that gathering and as the focus of the upcoming year. The NABCA seeks to counteract some of the
negative information spread by proponents of privati- zation by showing that the control system should be celebrated. “We should not hide our accomplishments from the
light of day,” Stapleton said at this year’s event. “We have a story to tell and my goal is to make sure the media, government officials and community leaders hear the rest of the story. As we prepare to celebrate 75 years of the experiment of our control models, let us remem- ber that is has been acknowledged by experts and research that there are many benefits to the Control State systems, both economic and social.”
SW 31
