www.alkoholpolitik.ch

It may have been the most important public hearing on alcopops to date, and yet two major producers of these dangerous products couldn’t be bothered to show up.
The New York Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse held a public hearing on April 12 to discuss the need to restrict youth access to alcopops: sweet, fruit-flavored alcohol drinks, often with alcohol levels as high as 12%. Alcopops producers directly market them to underage drinkers, and cost hundreds of lives and billions of dollars of alcohol-related harm annually.
Setting an example for all states, New York State has conducted studies that revealed the startling availability of alcopops to teens. Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), chair of the Committee, recently introduced Senate Bill 4221 to address the problem by restricting the sale of flavored malt beverages to liquor stores. As part of the legislative process, the recent Committee hearing provided a forum for both for both opponents and proponents to make their case about alcopop availability on the record and before relevant lawmakers. … (Source: Marin Institute, 04/20/11)

Lawmakers have been weighing whether to raise the tax on alcoholic beverages since the first day of this year’s legislative session. But the idea is getting a fresh look in recent weeks — with a twist.
Health advocates recently learned that DC imposes a „special sales tax“ on alcohol, charging an extra 3-4 percent on top of the regular 6 percent sales tax rate. Maryland, they argue, should follow the District’s lead and develop its own special sales tax for alcohol.
The new proposal comes as the General Assembly is getting into the nitty gritty of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $14 billion general fund budget. Revenue increases are considered separately from the budget, but they generally go hand in hand. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/18/11) weblogs.baltimoresun.com, 03/17/11 our Online-Comment: Alcohol taxes should be seen in relation to the damage and harm alcoholic beverages produce in society. Alcohol taxes should be high enough to reduce general consumption. This would reduce also the tribute we pay a life long without being asked for alcohol related social costs. The profit goes to the alcohol industry.

Maryland may raise alcohol taxes for the first time since 1972 by a dime a drink, Delmarvanow.com reported Jan. 14.
Maryland last raised its tax on beer and wine in 1972, and its tax on spirits 54 years ago, in 1957. Its wine tax ranks 37th-lowest in the nation, its beer tax 44th, and its tax on spirits 47th.
Some legislators said the tax could partially offset the state’s $1.6 billion deficit and reduce alcohol abuse and alcohol-related costs. (Source: Join Together, 01/20/11)

Maryland lawmakers are readying for a fight to raise the state’s alcohol tax.
Members of the Senate health committee asked the state’s health secretary on Thursday for studies on Maryland’s drinking habits and how consumption in other states has been affected by changes in the alcohol tax. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/14/11) the Washington Examiner, 01/13/11

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages such as Four Loko have come under fire from lawmakers and public health officials in recent weeks, following reports of hospitalizations and even some deaths tied to the potent drinks.
Now, a new study suggests that combining caffeine and alcohol can pose a risk to young people even when the substances aren’t mixed in the same can or cup. College students who consume nonalcoholic energy drinks such as Red Bull at least once a week are more than twice as likely as their peers to show signs of alcohol dependence, including withdrawal symptoms and an inability to cut back on drinking, according to the study. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 11/17/10) health.com, 11/16/10

California Assembly Bill 1019, the Alcohol-Related Services Act, would have imposed the equivalent of a 10-cent fee on every alcoholic drink served in California and raise $1.44 billion per year to help offset the billions in public money lost to alcohol-related harm. Would have.
AB 1019 died the first week of 2010 without making it out of its first committee. The bill needed 10 yes votes from the 19 members of the Assembly Health Committee to keep it alive. It only received 5. (You can view a complete list of the certified vote at the end of this article.) (Source: Marin Institute, 1/11/10)

Proposals to raise beer and liquor taxes in Wisconsin — partly to pay for alcohol treatment and anti-drunk-driving programs — drew big crowds to the state capital, but the response from lawmakers was less than enthusiastic. (Source: Join Together, 10/23/09)

Children have long been able to drink in bars in Wisconsin if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian over age 21, but lawmakers are now looking to curtail the practice. Citing Wisconsin’s huge problems with drunk driving and the health impact of underage drinking, state Sen. Judy Robson is proposing to limit youth drinking in bars to those ages 18 and older who are with their parents. Bartenders also must agree to serve the underage drinker. (Source: Join Together, 8/28/09Join)

A new Massachusetts tax on liquor, wine and beer went into effect this weekend, but the state’s alcohol sellers are working to reinstate a longtime sales-tax exemption on alcoholic beverages. As part of a budget-balancing plan, state lawmakers raised the Massachusetts sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent, and also applied the tax to alcoholic drinks along with other goods and services. Backers expect the alcohol tax to raise up to $80 million in annual revenues for the state. (Source: Join Together, 8/4/09)

Supermarkets would be barred from allowing customers to use self-service checkout lanes to purchase alcohol under a proposal now being debated in the California legislature. (Source: Join Together, 7/28/09)