4/7/08-16

Alcohol

Removing malt flavored beverages, known as "alcopops" from convenience stores was not just an attempt to stop underage drinking, said Sen. Curtis Bramble R-Provo.

Distilled spirits, by state law, must be sold in liquor stores. Only beer can be sold in convenience and grocery stores, but these fruity drinks were classified as malt flavored beverages, and were sold alongside beer.

Some legislators were concerned that by removing the alcopops from privately owned businesses the state would be adding revenue to their own pockets instead of the citizens. The Smiths supermarket stores throughout the state combined might lose up to one million dollars in revenue said Tom Guinney, who owns and operates private clubs and restaurants in Utah. Albertsons stores could lose around $800,000.

"They'd probably lose more if they stopped selling radishes and green onions," Guinney said.

Moving the drinks to state liquor stores will keep the number of drinks consumed down just based on the sheer fact that there have been several hundreds of convenience stores, and a far more limited number of state liquor stores, Bramble said.

"Just by pure numbers, we are reducing the availability of these products to get into the hands of teens, even if the drinks are still bought by their parents," Bramble said.

The alcopops have been proven to be targeted at teens and young women primarily, Guinney said.

Governor Jon Huntsman only agreed to support the alcopop bill when the issue of poured drinks and sidecars were addressed.

The second part of the bill addresses the amount of alcohol that could be served as a part of a mixed drink. With the passage of this legislation, the amount has been taken down from a possible three and three-fourths ounce to a standard two and one-half ounce.

"Now it will be consistent to what bartenders are used to across the country," Bramble said.