STOP ACT BACKED BY ENTIRE INDUSTRY
The alcohol beverage industry came together yesterday in a surprising turn of events where brewers, importers, wholesalers, vintners and distillers put aside difference to pledge their support for the revised STOP bill, or the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, to combat, you guessed it, illegal underage drinking. The bipartisan House bill also reasserts the Federal government’s belief that the states should have the power to regulate alcohol within their borders.
While the bill has been circled around for years, it never achieved enough industry support due to language in the bill that was considered potentially harmful to the industry without serving any useful purpose in preventing illegal underage drinking. However, with help from the NBWA and other organizations, the co-sponsors of the bill were finally able to produce language that everyone could agree on. Whether the bill can pass both houses of Congress, however, is another story.
DISCUS president and CEO Dr. Peter Cressy stated:
“The Distilled Spirits Council announced today its support of the Stop Act, a federal bill that provides for programs and activities aimed at preventing underage drinking. The spirits industry is vehemently opposed to underage drinking and has worked aggressively to combat this serious and complex problem for decades.
“While progress has been made, any amount of underage drinking is too much. We appreciate the bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives led by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Congressman Tom Osborne to include all interested parties in crafting this important legislation. By working together and focusing on effective, comprehensive solutions, we can continue to make progress.
“We are pleased to join with The Century Council, the Beer Institute, Wine Institute, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America and the National Beer Wholesalers Association in this step in the fight against underage drinking.”
The WSWA emitted a similar tone in its statement:
“The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc. (WSWA) urges Congress to pass The STOP Act (H.R. 864), before it adjourns this week. The STOP Act recognizes that the three-tier system and continued state regulation of the sale and distribution of alcohol are critical to preventing access to alcohol by persons under 21 years of age.
“We applaud the work of Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and her efforts to ensure that this bill included input from coalitions and advocacy groups, as well as concerned members of the alcohol beverage industry. We also salute our industry partners—the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc. and the Beer Institute—for their actions in support of The STOP Act.
We are pleased the alcohol beverage industry has voiced their support for The STOP Act. Now, it's time for Congress to take action.”
WSD commends the industry for knocking down fences and joining together on such an important issue.
While the bill has been circled around for years, it never achieved enough industry support due to language in the bill that was considered potentially harmful to the industry without serving any useful purpose in preventing illegal underage drinking. However, with help from the NBWA and other organizations, the co-sponsors of the bill were finally able to produce language that everyone could agree on. Whether the bill can pass both houses of Congress, however, is another story.
DISCUS president and CEO Dr. Peter Cressy stated:
“The Distilled Spirits Council announced today its support of the Stop Act, a federal bill that provides for programs and activities aimed at preventing underage drinking. The spirits industry is vehemently opposed to underage drinking and has worked aggressively to combat this serious and complex problem for decades.
“While progress has been made, any amount of underage drinking is too much. We appreciate the bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives led by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Congressman Tom Osborne to include all interested parties in crafting this important legislation. By working together and focusing on effective, comprehensive solutions, we can continue to make progress.
“We are pleased to join with The Century Council, the Beer Institute, Wine Institute, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America and the National Beer Wholesalers Association in this step in the fight against underage drinking.”
The WSWA emitted a similar tone in its statement:
“The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc. (WSWA) urges Congress to pass The STOP Act (H.R. 864), before it adjourns this week. The STOP Act recognizes that the three-tier system and continued state regulation of the sale and distribution of alcohol are critical to preventing access to alcohol by persons under 21 years of age.
“We applaud the work of Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and her efforts to ensure that this bill included input from coalitions and advocacy groups, as well as concerned members of the alcohol beverage industry. We also salute our industry partners—the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc. and the Beer Institute—for their actions in support of The STOP Act.
We are pleased the alcohol beverage industry has voiced their support for The STOP Act. Now, it's time for Congress to take action.”
WSD commends the industry for knocking down fences and joining together on such an important issue.
posted at 1:17 PM
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