The Alabama House voted on a bill allowing stronger, gourmet beers to be sold in Alabama. On March 3 the House approved 49-37. The next step before going to the governor is the Senate.
Alabama law requires that beer sold in Alabama have an alcohol content no more than 6 percent by volume. The bill sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson of Thomasville ups it to 13.9 percent.
"The people who drink Bud light, Miller and Coors are gonna continue to drink Bud light, Miller and Coors," Jackson said. "These are refinery-types for more of an aristocratic taste. If you are not a connoisseur, you are not gonna like these beers."
The Free the Hops (FTH) grassroots, non-profit organization has been trying for three years to get the Gourmet Beer Bill passed. Supporting legislators believe it will help keep some revenue in Alabama.
"What we are doing is going across state lines anyway, buying this beer and bringing it back to Alabama," Jackson said.
The opposition said this is a distraction from more important losses.
"You have to weigh the costs versus the revenue," said Joe Godfrey, representative for Alabama Citizen Action Program. "They get the revenue, but there's a social cost related to alcohol use. It is an addictive drug. It destroys families. It destroys lives."
In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 32 percent involved a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, according to alcoholalert.com.
"You have to ask yourself," Godfrey said, "is that little bit of revenue gonna really make that much difference?"
However, data from MADD on the FTH Web site indicates there is no link between the availability of high alcohol beer and higher rates of underage drinking.
"We obviously cannot say this enough: underage drinkers are not interested in high alcohol gourmet beer," said Mark Warren, head of the Montgomery chapter of FTH. "High alcohol beers are very expensive. Underage drinkers are looking for a cheap buzz. High alcohol beers have very strong flavors that make them extremely difficult to consume quickly. They are sipping beers, and the flavors are often described as an acquired taste."
Sen. Ted Little said he doesn't think the bill would make it out of the state Legislature, and he's beyond certain that Gov. Bob Riley would veto it if it made it to his desk.
"The truth is, there are some folks for the concept and some who are against it," Little said. "But looking at this administration's veto record on alcohol, it would take a referendum vote because if it passes without a referendum vote it would be subject to a veto."
Little said he's also not sure he wants to subject himself to the groups that would come out against him if he did sponsor a bill that is ultimately vetoed by the governor.
"If the sponsors of this legislation are not successful the first year, they'll bring it back the second year and the third year," said Rep. Richard Laird. "They'll eventually wear the resistance down or wait for that resistance to get defeated in an election. I cannot understand the allure of this type legislation but it continually pops up."
Only one or two of the top 100 "gourmet beers" can be found in Alabama, according to Beeradvocate.com.
"These beers are commonly referred to as craft beers due to the skill and artistry required to brew them, but they are also appropriately classified as specialty or gourmet," Warren said. "We want to give Alabamians the option to choose the Mercedes of beers."
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