Category: Policy

AMA’s Alcohol Information and Statistics (Beware of Errors & Distortions)

Although it’s a professional medical organization, the American Medical Association (AMA) is also a major political organization. In its efforts to influence public policy, the AMA plays fast and loose with facts. Thus, AMA’s alcohol information and statistics are often either wrong or misleading. 100,000 Beer Commercials The AMA has asserted that it “long has …

Communities sometimes vote on whether or not to allow Sunday alcohol sales. Or they vote on whether to overturn old laws prohibiting any sale of alcohol. That is, on whether to become “wet.” In virtually all cases, opposition to such change is organized by local ministers. They who contend that drinking is prohibited by the …

You’ll find here a summary of each state’s laws about the minimum age to sell alcohol in off-premises venues. That is, in places where customers must take the alcohol elsewhere to consume it. States vary widely in their alcohol laws. What is true in one state may not be true in the next. Therefore, it’s …

Dry Counties Have Higher DWI Fatality Rates

Dry counties have higher DWI or DUI fatality rates than wet counties. That is, alcohol prohibition or dry counties have higher rates of alcohol-related traffic deaths than do wet counties. Here are the results from three states. There are many examples. Here are three. I. Arkansas A study of all counties in Arkansas found dry …

Alcohol Taxes: Federal & State

Governments collect excise taxes on alcohol beverages. That is, on beer, wine, and distilled spirits. (Spirits are vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whiskey, etc.) Both the federal government and state governments impose alcohol taxes. In addition, local governments do so as well. Alcohol taxes at the federal, state, and local levels adds greatly to the retail …

Effect of Lower Legal BAC on Traffic Crashes

I. Impact of BAC on Traffic Crashes. What’s the effect of BAC on traffic crashes? (BAC = blood alcohol concentration.) Most drivers who have any alcohol in their bodies have a low and legal BAC. As a result, they have few alcohol-related crashes. The chart below shows BAC in relation to risk of crach. Clearly, …

Alcohol Monopoly Privatization and Expansion of Alcohol Availability (The Effects)

I. Beliefs about Alcohol Policy. Many groups and individuals oppose alcohol monopoly privatization. Of course, public employee unions adamantly fight against it for obvious reasons. In addition, many temperance-oriented groups also strongly oppose increasing the availability of alcohol. That includes limiting the Number of stores that can sell alcohol. Days and hours of alcohol sales. …

Minimum Drinking Age on Cruise Ships and Cruise Destinations

The minimum drinking age on cruise ships varies, even within the same cruise line. The U.S. has the highest minimum drinking age in the world. This creates numerous headaches for both cruise lines and passengers. In most cruise destinations, the minimum drinking age is 18. You’ll find a link to each cruise line’s home page. …

Moonshine: Its Nature, Illegality, Dangers, and Prevention. Important Facts

I. What is Moonshine? Moonshine is slang for distilled spirits made without governmental authorization. The term may have originated because much of the distilling, packaging and distribution was done at night. Or it may have come from “moonraker.” That was an early English word for a smuggler. Other common terms for illegally-made spirits are mountain …

Amethyst Initiative: College Presidents Lead in Reducing Alcohol Abuse

The Amethyst Initiative is a group of college and university presidents across the U.S. They promote public discussion about the unintended consequences of current alcohol policies. This includes the minimum legal drinking age of 21. Amethyst Initiative presidents invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use. Dr. …