Public Health Advocates Slam Deceptive Maryland Alcohol Bill

Big Alcohol Sponsored Measure Would Rewrite Maryland Law to Allow Youth
Greater Access to Alcopops

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- California-based Marin
Institute initiated an Action Alert today in an effort to stop a bill in the
Maryland legislature that would change how youth-targeted alcopops --
sweetened alcoholic beverages -- are taxed and distributed.
Under current Maryland law these beverages should be classified as
distilled spirits, but industry prefers to call them "flavored malt beverages"
to take advantage of lenient beer regulations, including much lower tax rates.
The pending Maryland bill would enable companies such as Diageo (maker of
top-selling Smirnoff Ice) to codify this deception and de facto tax evasion.
"It's the same industry ploy that youth and advocates stopped in
California," said Marin Institute executive director Bruce Livingston. "When
alcopops are properly taxed at higher rates and kept out of convenience
stores, we reduce youth access. Companies like Diageo and Anheuser-Busch hope
to hook lifetime consumers on their dangerous products."
In 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a very similar
industry-sponsored bill. Meanwhile, last year, the California Board of
Equalization agreed that alcopops are indeed distilled spirits and thus will
be taxed at a much higher rate than beer, putting them further beyond the
reach of underage drinkers. Maine also categorizes alcopops as distilled
spirits.
Just last week, following California and Maine's lead, the state of Utah
decided alcopops were too dangerous to youth and ordered that sales be limited
to state-run liquor stores. Nationwide, financially strapped states are
quickly recognizing the benefits of raising new revenue through properly
taxing alcopops, while simultaneously reducing the costs of alcohol-related
harms.
"Big Alcohol is running scared because they realize their game of
deception is unraveling," said Marin Institute director of research and policy
Michele Simon. "The industry is attempting to rewrite the law, state by state,
to ensure their youth-friendly alcopops remain cheap and available."
It's no coincidence that Maryland bill, HB 879, was authored by Mary Ann
E. Love, chair of the House Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee and recipient of
more campaign contributions in 2006 from the alcohol industry than from any
other source. Only the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Michael Busch,
received more money from Big Alcohol.
"We are hopeful that people who truly care about the young people of
Maryland will help us stop this deceptive legislation," added Livingston.
"Dishonest industry profits should not be placed above the health and safety
of Maryland youth."
For more information please visit http://www.marininstitute.org

CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415/257-2490
Jorge Castillo 415/257-2488

SOURCE Marin Institute

Michael Scippa, +1-415-257-2490, or Jorge Castillo, +1-415-257-2488, both of
Marin Institute